Infrastructure Australia rejects bid for traffic-busting Brisbane corridor

Brisbane City Council has been accused of wasting millions of dollars in taxpayer funding on a study for a northside transit plan only to have it rejected by the federal infrastructure body.

Bold plans for a $14 billion traffic-busting corridor through Brisbane’s northwest to southern Moreton have been rejected by a powerful federal infrastructure body.

Brisbane City Council spent two years and $10 million of federal money on a study exploring rapid transit options from Bald Hills to the Airport Link tunnel.

But Infrastructure Australia (IA) recently knocked back the study because it did not consider above-ground options along a State Government-controlled corridor.

An IA spokesman said it did not publicly discuss projects at “stage 2’’.

Council last year ruled out above-ground options because of community concerns, including the impact on wildlife reserves around Chermside.

It instead canvassed alternatives including bus or rail tunnels, claiming that without action the cost of congestion would blow out to more than $500 million a year by 2031.

Artist's impression of a bus rapid transport station.

State Transport Minister Mark Bailey described IA’s decision as an embarrassment for Council, which he said had deliberately cut his Government and Moreton Bay Regional Council (MBRC) out of the study.

“The cigar has blown up in Lord Mayor (Adrian) Schrinner’s face,’’ Mr Bailey said. 

“Since January last year, how many pieces of correspondence did my office receive from Lord Mayor Schrinner about this? Zero. None. Nada.

“The LNP council, with the connivance of former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, wasted $10 million of taxpayer’s money with this worthless study that cut the State Government out of the process deliberately despite it being about our corridor. 

The transport corridor traverses environmentally sensitive bushland.

“During my time as minister for transport this is one of the most humiliating debacles I’ve seen.’’

An MBRC spokesman declined to comment as the transport corridor itself was in Brisbane, despite having implications for the Petrie/Strathpine area.

Brisbane City Council blamed the State Government for the IA decision.

“It is shockingly shortsighted that the State Government isn’t interested in working together to plan new road and public transport initiatives that can ease the daily commute of north-west Brisbane residents,’’ a BCC spokeswoman said. 

“Our study made abundantly clear that the state’s North West Transport Corridor – known by many locals as the Trouts Rd Corridor — is a critical environmental asset that must never be developed for surface road or rail. 

“Tunnelling options must be considered for environmental and community-impact reasons. 

“We believe significant private investment is possible and could supplement any federal and state funding put on the table. 

“Nothing further can happen if the state refuses to participate.

North West Transport Network explained

“We urge them to reconsider so all three levels of government can work together on transport projects that can benefit residents in Brisbane’s north.’’

Mr Bailey said it took Council three years to conduct the study, during which time the State Government had no input. 

The first he heard about it was through the media in July last year.

He said Council had to dump an initial toll road plan after a public outcry, instead proposing a rail tunnel which he also was not consulted about. 

“What’s most disappointing about this is that it’s the people of Brisbane’s northwest suburbs who will suffer... because we now need to go completely back to the drawing board to find a suitable transport solution (after) wasting three whole years.”

Labor Opposition Leader in Council, Jared Cassidy, said Cr Schrinner’s “desire to play politics with the people of Brisbane has resulted in a complete waste of $10 million, not to mention the three-year planning study’’.

“If only this out-of-touch LNP Council would spend three years planning suburban road projects,’’ he said.

“Or imagine if they spent the millions of dollars wasted on public transport upgrades, building bikeways and footpaths, or other vital suburban services.

“This is a total embarrassment for Adrian Schrinner and this Council.

“Adding to this embarrassment, even former LNP Councillor Amanda Cooper, who is on the board at Infrastructure Australia, couldn’t save this bonkers business case from the LNP in City Hall.’’

Originally published as Infrastructure Australia rejects bid for traffic-busting Brisbane corridor