‘New’ projects revealed in State’s $3.5b rail cash splash already flagged

Many projects flagged by Treasurer Cameron Dick as part of a massive $3.5 billion spend in this year’s upcoming State Budget are already in the pipeline.

Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick has announced a $3.5 billion investment into the state’s rail network as part of the 2022-2023 State Budget - but many of the projects spruiked have previously been flagged.

The Treasurer will deliver the State Budget on Tuesday, which he said will deliver more jobs for Queenslanders as well as better services and the protection of livestock.

He made the multi-billion dollar announcement in Woolloongabba Sunday morning.

“Our Budget is so fairly focused, fairly and squarely on creating more jobs for Queenslanders.

As we build a stronger economy, we need to ensure that people can get around our community,” Mr Dick said.

“That’s why in this Budget we’ll be investing $3.5 billion into enhancing and improving Queensland’s Rail Network.

“That will include $924 million which will be committed and invested in the Gold Coast light rail stage three, $876 million to the duplication of the rail line between Kuraby and Beenleigh, $489 million towards the Nambour-Beerburrum rail upgrade, and $107 million to build three new railway stations on the Gold Coast.

“These investments will create more than 5000 jobs for Queenslanders over the life of the projects and that’s why capital investment, investment in our infrastructure, is so important.”

Treasurer Cameron Dick making the announcement on Sunday: Patrick Woods.

Then-Queensland Premier Anna Bligh first set out plans in 2010 for a “rail revolution” in South East Queensland, with the Cross River Rail project as the lynchpin.

The State Government announced in March that construction giant John Holland signed a contract to carry out major works on stage three of the Gold Coast light rail.

In February, the government announced “an additional $1.12 billion to deliver faster rail services between Brisbane, Logan, Beenleigh and the Gold Coast” - which included the Kuraby to Beeneigh track duplication.

The Beerburrum to Nambour Rail upgrade is already underway, with LNP transport spokesman Steve Minnikin accusing the government in August of spending $10.5m less than it budgeted for the project in the 2020-21 financial year.

Great news: Queensland’s rail revolution is on track with this year’s budget delivering $3.5 billion worth of new rail projects, on top of our huge investment in Cross River Rail 🚄 pic.twitter.com/gez6n67mjK

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) June 19, 2022

New railway stations at Pimpama, Hope Island and Merrimac have also already been announced as part of the Cross River Rail project, and the automatic train control system has also been flagged.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said infrastructure and investments in public transport are important due to the population growth coming across the border.

“This rail revolution will be a really important part of moving people about more efficiently and more effectively in this Budget as well,” Mr Bailey said.

“Another feature that’s in this Budget is funding for the automatic train control. This is the system that allows us to run automatic doors on platforms so that people are physically unable to fall on the tracks.

“This is state-of-the-art underground rail technology. (It’s) great to see that in the Budget as well.”

Originally published as ‘New’ projects revealed in State’s $3.5b rail cash splash already flagged