Transport for NSW ______111

New South Wales Auditor-General’s Report | Financial | Focusing Audit Eight | Volume on Transport 2012 and Ports New South Wales Auditor-General’s Report Financial Audit Volume Eight 2012 Focusing on Transport and Ports Professional people with purpose Making the people of New South Wales proud of the work we do. Level 15, 1 Margaret Street Sydney NSW 2000 Australia t +61 2 9275 7100 f +61 2 9275 7200 e [email protected] office hours 8.30 am–5.00 pm audit.nsw.gov.au The role of the Auditor-General GPO Box 12 The roles and responsibilities of the Auditor- Sydney NSW 2001 General, and hence the Audit Office, are set out in the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983. Our major responsibility is to conduct financial or ‘attest’ audits of State public The Legislative Assembly The Legislative Council sector agencies’ financial statements. Parliament House Parliament House Sydney NSW 2000 Sydney NSW 2000 We also audit the Total State Sector Accounts, a consolidation of all agencies’ accounts. Pursuant to the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983, Financial audits are designed to add credibility I present Volume Eight of my 2012 report. to financial statements, enhancing their value to end-users. Also, the existence of such audits provides a constant stimulus to agencies to ensure sound financial management. Peter Achterstraat Auditor-General Following a financial audit the Office issues 5 December 2012 a variety of reports to agencies and reports periodically to parliament. In combination these reports give opinions on the truth and fairness of financial statements, and comment on agency compliance with certain laws, regulations and Government directives. They may comment on financial prudence, probity and waste, and recommend operational improvements. We also conduct performance audits. These examine whether an agency is carrying out its activities effectively and doing so economically and efficiently and in compliance with relevant laws. Audits may cover all or parts of an agency’s operations, or consider particular Our vision issues across a number of agencies. To make the people of New South Wales proud of the work we do. Performance audits are reported separately, with all other audits included in one of the Our mission regular volumes of the Auditor-General’s To perform high quality independent audits Reports to Parliament – Financial Audits. of government in New South Wales. audit.nsw.gov.au Our values Purpose – we have an impact, are accountable, and work as a team. People – we trust and respect others and have a balanced approach to work. Professionalism – we are recognised for our independence and integrity © Copyright reserved by the Audit Office of New South and the value we deliver. Wales. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior consent of the Audit Office of New South Wales. The Audit Office does not accept responsibility for loss or damage suffered by any person acting on or refraining from action as a result of any of this material. Professional people with purpose audit.nsw.gov.au Contents Significant Items ___________________________________________________________ 2 Recommendations _________________________________________________________ 6 Section One - Overview Transport Overview ________________________________________________________ 8 Ports Overview ___________________________________________________________ 36 Section Two - Agencies with Individual Comment Minister for Roads and Ports ________________________________________________ 50 Roads and Maritime Services______________________________________________ 50 Minister for Transport ______________________________________________________ 60 Chief Investigator of the Office of Transport Safety Investigations _________________ 60 Country Rail Infrastructure Authority ________________________________________ 61 Department of Transport _________________________________________________ 65 Public Transport Ticketing Corporation ______________________________________ 69 Rail Corporation of New South Wales _______________________________________ 73 State Transit Authority of New South Wales __________________________________ 93 Sydney Ferries ________________________________________________________ 104 Sydney Metro _________________________________________________________ 109 Transport for NSW _____________________________________________________ 111 Appendix - Agencies not commented on in this volume, by minister _____________ 118 Index ___________________________________________________________________ 119 1 NSW Auditor-General's Report to Parliament | Volume Eight 2012 | Contents Significant Items This summary shows the most significant issues identified during my audits. Page Transport Overview Government funding to the public transport operators totalled $4.4 billion in 2011-12 ($3.7 billion in 2010-11) 10 Passenger services revenue only covered 20 per cent of RailCorp's operating costs 11 Transport for NSW has formalised a protocol to mitigate the risk of potential conflicts of interests 12 At present, no sustainability framework exists for the transport agencies 12 Transport patronage continued to grow with 510 million journeys on train, bus and ferry services 13 CityRail had two peak hour periods where only 36 per cent and 39 per cent of services were on time 16 All Sydney Buses' regions performed below the 95 per cent target of services departing within five minutes of the scheduled time 17 On-time running performance for Sydney Ferries was above the NSW 2021 plan target of 98.5 per cent for most routes in 2011-12 18 Customer surveys by transport agencies no longer specifically address crowding on public transport 20 Over 2,500 transport staff, or 8.3 per cent of the workforce, have excessive leave balances 22 The number of contractors employed by transport group fell by 11.2 per cent at 30 June 2012 24 The highest paid contractor engaged by the Department of Transport Group and was paid $529,000 in 2011-12 25 The total overtime cost for the transport agencies fell by 1.8 per cent in 2011-12 26 State Transit reduced its overtime payments by $5.6 million, mainly through more efficient rostering 27 The number and proportion of the transport workforce older than 55 continued to increase 28 Commuters should be using the new electronic Opal smart card 'ticket' on all modes of public transport by the end of 2014 30 The Transport Access Program currently includes projects worth $772 million over four years to improve public transport facilities 30 The NSW Government will invest $5.8 billion in transport infrastructure during 2012-13 31 Forty-eight per cent of major transport projects are either late or over budget 31 Transport for NSW awarded four new Sydney Metropolitan Bus Service Contracts to private bus operators in November 2012 32 To date, Transport for NSW and RailCorp have paid $200 million to acquire 31 properties for the North West Rail Link 34 2 NSW Auditor-General's Report to Parliament | Volume Eight 2012 | Significant Items Ports Overview Coal remains a key commodity for NSW ports, with trade increasing by 11.5 per cent in 2011-12 40 The NSW Government expects to complete 99-year leases of Port Botany and Port Kembla in 2013 41 In 2011-12 the proportion of freight moved by rail remained stable at 14.1 per cent against a revised target of 28 per cent by 2020 41 The NSW Government has decided to remove the limit on container movements at Port Botany 42 Roads and Maritime Services Roads and Maritime Services expects to finalise a service level agreement with Transport for NSW in 2013 50 A survey of Sydney's seven major routes shows travel speeds remained broadly consistent over the past five years 52 NSW road fatalities are the third lowest since 1945 53 Roads and Maritime Services continues to face challenges in meeting its road maintenance targets 54 Chief Investigator of the Office of Transport Safety Investigations The Chief Investigator of the Office of Transport Safety Investigations has recorded deficits for the last six financial years and has net liabilities 60 Country Rail Infrastructure Authority New ten-year country regional network management agreement is to deliver over $1.5 billion in maintenance and upgrade works 61 Backlog maintenance has decreased by $45.0 million to $635 million, and is expected to be cleared over the next eight years 62 Department of Transport Government contributions to all transport agencies totalled $9.7 billion, 79 per cent of total revenue 66 The State spent $2.0 billion during the year, maintaining its $94.1 billion investment in roads, rail, buses and ferries 67 Public Transport Ticketing Corporation Over $115 million was spent on the discontinued Tcard project and associated litigation, with the State recovering only $32.0 million in damages 69 The Tcard project is still costing NSW taxpayers over $300,000 per month 70 Transport for NSW advises the rollout of the Electronic Ticketing System is on track and within budget 71 Rail Corporation of New South Wales The Reliance Rail project was facing up to $250 million in extra costs and up to $1.0 billion in replacement funding 74 Failure to upgrade electrical infrastructure could impact RailCorp's ability to run its Waratah services 74 Passenger revenue covered only 20 per cent of Railcorp’s cost of operations in 2011-12 74 3 NSW Auditor-General's Report to Parliament | Volume Eight 2012 | Significant Items Patronage on the airport line has increased after the NSW Government negotiated the removal of access fees at two

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