Brisbane Cross River Rail gets funding boost

UPDATE: Federal funding for Cross River Rail will be conditional on the rail link being integrated with Brisbane Metro. The Deputy Premier welcomed the funding boost but said federal government involvement in the Delivery Authority was essential.

FEDERAL funding for Cross River Rail will be conditional on the rail link being integrated with Brisbane Metro.

The Turnbull Government today announced $10 million in planning funding for Cross River Rail, the first federal money they have committed to the $5.4 billion rail project.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull met with Lord Mayor Graham Quirk this morning and said the two public transport projects needed to be integrated.

“We have two projects here – Brisbane Metro and Cross River Rail. They are not competing, they are complementary and it’s important to make sure we get the investment right and the planning right,” Mr Turnbull.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk last month voiced strong opposition to Brisbane Metro, the 7km subway system proposed by Brisbane City Council at a cost of $1.54 billion.

She called on the Lord Mayor to ditch the project after denying BCC use of the Go Print site to stable rolling stock.

The next day, Deputy Premier Jackie Trad clarified the Government’s position and said they supported Brisbane Metro and its integration with Cross River Rail and that the State would offer Council assistance.

Mr Turnbull said the integration was vital to his government’s new approach to cities.

“Our new approach to cities is going to mean better projects, better investment, better outcomes and greater liveability to the people of Brisbane,” Mr Turnbull said.

“We’ve had a very good discussion this morning with the Lord Mayor about the future of public transport in Brisbane and we talked about Brisbane Metro project and the Cross River Rail project,” Mr Turnbull said.

Lord Mayor Quirk agreed both projects were vital to Brisbane and their integration essential.

“There has never been a negative word from me about Cross River Rail and there won’t be,” Mr Quirk said. “The reality is we need that piece of infrastructure and we need Brisbane Metro.”

Federal Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher and Ms Trad are meeting later today to discuss the $10 funding for Cross River Rail.

Ms Trad she was delighted Malcolm Turnbull has come on board to support Cross River Rail.

“Cross River Rail is our highest priority infrastructure project which will fundamentally transform South East Queensland,” Ms Trad said.

“This is a city-shaping project that will be a driver of new jobs, better housing and increased productivity.

“The cooperation of the Turnbull Government will help expedite the completion of the initial stages of Cross River Rail and is the next step towards fully funding this project.

“The Turnbull Government has recognised its potential and so has the Brisbane City Council.”

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad welcomed the $10 million in Federal Government funding for Cross River Rail but said it’s involvement in the Delivery Authority was more important.

“I’m so pleased today that the Commonwealth has agreed to have a representative on the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority,” she said.

“This is a very important step, I think a much more important step than the $10 million today because what it means is the Federal Government has a seat at the table... and we can collectively make decisions that are in the best interests of Queenslanders going forward.”

Ms Trad said more details about the Metro needed to be provided through the business case process.

“We have always said that the council’s Metro transport project needs to be complimentary to Cross River Rail,” she said.

“It can’t cannibalise it. It can’t duplicate it.”

But Ms Trad reiterated that the Go Print site in Woolloongabba was off limits to the Metro’s stabling yard.

“Ultimately, this is a state government site that will be used for Cross River Rail station and not as a depot for Metro,” she said

Ms Trad said she was hoping to secure a similar federal funding contribution to the $800 million the State Government has committed.

Artist impressions of a proposed Boggo Road station.

OVERNIGHT: Brisbane’s stalled Cross River Rail project has received its first injection of federal funding, moving the project one step closer to reality.

The Commonwealth will provide $10 million to progress planning for the rail link and to support the establishment of the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority (CRRDA).

The funding is the first indication the Turnbull Government is committed to seeing the $5.4 billion project delivered.

MALCOLM TURNBULL: Why Queensland is a priority

It comes before Infrastructure Australia has finished assessing the CRR business case.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will be in Brisbane today for a Cabinet meeting.

The Courier-Mail understands Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher will meet with Deputy Premier Jackie Trad to discuss the long-promised rail link, which has been stuck in the planning stage since 2010.

Cross River Rail’s 10.2km rail link would connect Dutton Park to Bowen Hills via a 5.9km tunnel under the Brisbane River and CBD, with new stations at Boggo Road, Woolloongabba and Albert Street.

It would ease congestion on the Beenleigh, Gold Coast and Cleveland lines at the Merivale Bridge, Brisbane’s sole rail river crossing in the CBD. The Courier-Mail campaigned for Cross River Rail during its Go Queensland series.

An artist’s impression of the cross river rail project.

Mr Fletcher said Cross River Rail not only has the potential to improve Brisbane’s rail public transport services but to deliver city-shaping benefits.

“This is an opportunity for the Commonwealth Government to work with the Queensland Government to design a transport solution that promotes a productive, accessible and liveable Brisbane,” Mr Fletcher said.

The $10m federal contribution tops up $50 million allocated by the Palaszczuk Government in the last State Budget to establish the CRRDA and start early works.