Federal Government pushes to overhaul Brisbane Airport public transport options

Deputy Premier Cameron Dick has challenged the federal government and council to fund better public transport to Brisbane Airport – but wouldn’t detail what could be done while Airtrain enjoys exclusive access to the precinct.

Deputy Premier Cameron Dick has challenged the federal government and council to fund better public transport to Brisbane Airport – but wouldn’t detail what could be done while Airtrain enjoys exclusive access to the precinct.

It comes after The Sunday Mail reported Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King has written to the state government urging it to find a solution to the 35-year contract with foreign-owned Brisbane Airtrain that gives it exclusive public transport access to both terminals until 2036.

Mr Dick on Sunday acknowledged the state would increase efforts to find a solution to the Airtrain contract after previous transport minister Mark Bailey was unable to do so.

“There are issues in relation to that contract which was concluded by the then-LNP government about 20 years ago, and it’s not been a great deal,” Mr Dick said.

“We need to look at that contract and what it means but if we are to improve public transport to the airport we would welcome a significant investment from the federal government and Adrian Schrinner’s council to help us do that.”

Deputy Premier Cameron Dick on Sunday. Picture: Liam Kidston

Brisbane Airport is tipping 30 million passengers will use the airport annually by 2032, up from 20 million travellers currently.

The lack of public transport is also challenging for Brisbane Airport as it prepares to expand its workforce from 20,000 to 30,000 employees in time for the Games, with 93 per cent of staff now driving and parking on site.

Mr Dick said Ms King’s letter indicated the federal government was “keen to support the state in improving public transport to the airport”.

“We know the federal government’s jointly funding a $5bn rail line to Melbourne and we would welcome an investment from the federal government as well as Adrian Schrinner’s council, who also supports improved public transport,” he said.

The Deputy Premier did not provide details when asked what the federal government and council could do while Airtrain held exclusive access to Brisbane Airport.

“We need to look at all of those issues but of course, if there’s anything else we can do, we would welcome the contribution of the federal government and local government,” he said.

“There’s a possibility of course of buses but we need to deal with the legal framework that’s been set by the (Rob) Borbidge government.”

The current exclusive Airtrain contract runs until 2036. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

EARLIER

Australia’s transport minister has called for a significant overhaul of public transport options to and from Brisbane Airport, in a landmark intervention over Queensland being hamstrung by an exclusive deal with Airtrain.

It has prompted the Premier to call on his newly-minted Transport Minister to take another look at public transport options to the Airport “as a priority” after negotiations with Airtrain to potentially cut short the 35-year contract broke down.

The 35-year contract with Airtrain — which runs until 2036 — prohibits public buses being run to either the domestic or international terminal.

Brisbane Airport, based on population projections, is estimating 30 million passengers a year will filter through by 2032 up from the 20 million travellers currently.

The lack of public transport also poses a particular problem for Brisbane Airport as it gets ready to expand its workforce from 20,000 to 30,000 employees in time for the Games, with 93 per cent of staff currently driving and parking on site.

Brisbane Airport Corporation is expanding its p2 car park by 2026 to provide an extra 1700 car spaces complete with undercover scooter and bicycle storage as a result of this growth.

Federal transport minister Catherine King, in a letter to Brisbane Airport Corporation, Brisbane City Council and the state government, underlined her “concern regarding public transport access” to the airport in light of the impending 2032 Olympic Games.

“As you would be aware, carparking alone will not be sufficient to cope with increased demand for access to Brisbane Airport over coming years,” she said.

“It will be essential that public transport to the airport, particularly the rail line, operate effectively to ensure demand can be met.

“I encourage you and all interested parties to continue to work to ensure appropriate public transport access to Brisbane Airport.”

The state government had in recent years revisited the contract but former Transport Minister Mark Bailey revealed in November — as part of a push by the Courier-Mail for its Future Brisbane series — that negotiations with Airtrain had broken down.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Bart Mellish. Picture: David Clark

But successor Bart Mellish confirmed, in light of Ms King’s letter, that the Premier had asked him to take another look at the issue.

“I’ve spoken to my Director General and requested this be made a priority,” he said.

“This deal was done under the Borbidge LNP Government and unfortunately Queenslanders are still paying the price of this poor deal signed by them in 1998.”

Brisbane Airport chief executive Gert-Jan de Graaff said Ms King’s comments signalled the federal government acknowledge airports needed to be “connected in multiple ways”.

“What we’ve been saying for a very long time is we cannot build roads and car parks forever, there needs to be alternative ways to get to and from the airport,” he said.

“We’re very lucky that we’ve got a rail connection but it is not perfect. Frequency of the train is relatively low, so therefore the capacity is relatively low.”

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner applauded the move to improve public transport at Brisbane Airport. Picture: Liam Kidston

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said he was delighted Minister King had backed efforts to see improved public transport at Brisbane Airport.

“The Airtrain monopoly is a relic from decades ago and it no longer meets the needs of our modern, fast-growing city,” Mr Schrinner said.

“If the State Government gets serious about updating the Airtrain deal, I believe there’s an enormous opportunity for all three levels of government to work together to expand Brisbane Metro services to the airport. Having our fully-electric Brisbane Metro vehicles providing turn-up-and-go services at the airport would benefit workers, residents and visitors.”

Airtrain, under a deal inked in 1998, involved a consortium of private businesses paying to build an 8.5km line for about $200m before owning and operating it until 2036, when the asset will be handed over to the state government.

Airtrain, now owned by London-based Universities Superannuation Scheme, has a monopoly on public transport services to and from Brisbane Airport as part of the contract — preventing Brisbane City Council or TransLink from running buses into either terminal.

Catching the Airtrain between Central Station and the airport costs nearly $20 per person, making it more economical for two or more people to use a taxi or rideshare services like Uber.

And services run only every 15 minutes during peak hours and 30 minutes outside those windows, with the first service from the airport starting at 5am and the last leaving at 11pm.