Est Cte C 2000
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3 Aug 2000 Estimates C—Transport and Main Roads 177 ESTIMATES COMMITTEE C and Chair of this Committee. My fellow Committee members are: Mr Vaughan Johnson, the member for Gregory, who is also Mrs J. M. Attwood (Chair) Mr B. E. Laming our Deputy Chair today; Mr Jeff Knuth, who is Mr V. G. Johnson Mr P. T. Lucas not present at the moment; Mr Bruce Laming, Mr J. A. Knuth Mr R. J. Mickel the member for Mooloolah; Mr Paul Lucas, the member for Lytton; and Mr John Mickel, who will be joining us shortly. The Committee will TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS examine the proposed expenditure contained IN ATTENDANCE in the Appropriation Bill 2000 for the portfolios of Transport and Main Roads and Public Hon. S. D. Bredhauer, Minister for Works and Housing, in that order. Transport and Minister for Main Roads I remind the Committee and the Minister that the time limit for questions is one minute Transport— and for answers is three minutes. A bell will Mr B. Wilson, Director-General ring once 15 seconds before the end of these Mr J. Gralton, Deputy Director-General time limits and twice when the time is expired. I will allow more time for answers if the Mr D. Hunt, Executive Director (Land questioner consents. The Sessional Orders Transport and Safety) require that at least half the time for questions Mr M. McShea, Executive Director (Public at today's hearing be allotted to non- Transport) Government members. Government members Capt. J. Watkinson, Executive Director and non-Government members of the (Maritime) Committee will take turns at asking questions in blocks lasting approximately 20 minutes. Mr M. Hobday, Executive Director (Services Group) In relation to media coverage of today's hearing, the Committee has resolved that Ms H. Stehbens, Acting Executive Director video coverage is allowed during the opening (Rail, Ports and Aviation) statements. For the benefit of Hansard, I ask Ms J. Oswin, Acting Director (Finance and advisers to the Minister to identify themselves Business Services) before speaking. Please also ensure that Mr L. Ford, Executive Director mobile phones or pagers are switched off while (Metropolitan Transport the Committee is in session so as not to Development) disrupt the proceedings. Members of the public are reminded that they cannot Mr V. O'Rourke, Chief Executive participate in today's proceedings. Sessional (Queensland Rail) Order 195 provides that strangers to the Mr R. Scheuber, Deputy Chief Executive Parliament may be admitted or excluded from (Queensland Rail) the hearing at the pleasure of the Committee. Main Roads— The first item for consideration is the Mr S. Golding, Director-General Estimates of expenditure for the Transport and Main Roads portfolio. The time allotted is four Mr D. Muir, Deputy Director-General and a half hours. The first area to be Mrs K. Peut, Executive Director (Roads examined is the proposed expenditure of Programs) Queensland Rail and other Government Mr N. Doyle, General Manager (Strategic owned corporations that report to the Minister, Policy and Development) followed by Queensland Transport. We will continue after morning tea with the Ms D. Anderson, General Manager Department of Main Roads. I declare the (Finance and Business Services proposed expenditure for the Minister for Transport and Main Roads open for examination. The question before the Committee is— The Committee commenced at 8.30 a.m. "That the proposed expenditure be agreed to." The CHAIRMAN: I declare this meeting of Minister, would you like to make a brief Estimates Committee C now open. On behalf introductory statement? of the Committee I welcome ladies and gentlemen to today's hearing. I am Julie Mr BREDHAUER: I would, thank you. I will Attwood, the member for Mount Ommaney start by introducing those people at the table 178 Estimates C—Transport and Main Roads 3 Aug 2000 with me. To my right are the Director-General focus and commitment to regional of the Department of Transport, Bruce Wilson; Queensland is funding of $80m to upgrade the acting divisional head of the Rail, Ports the rail track between Rockhampton and and Aviation Division, Helen Stehbens; and Cairns as part of a $330m project. the Deputy Director-General of the Department Maryborough will enjoy a substantial of Transport, John Gralton. To my left are the investment boost with the Beattie Government Chief Executive Officer of Queensland Rail, confirming three major rail construction projects Vince O'Rourke, and the Deputy Chief for Walkers. These include $51m towards the Executive Officer of Queensland Rail, Bob construction of two new tilt train sets to operate Scheuber. between Brisbane and Cairns, $26.6m towards This Beattie Government State Budget the construction of the Brisbane Airport Rail delivers $3.3 billion for the Transport and Main Link car sets and the construction of a further Roads controlled operating budget, with the 16 three-car SMUs as part of a $245m project. major focus on rural and regional development The tilt train project alone has already created and the provision of basic community and 80 jobs and will eventually lead to employment industrial infrastructure. Budget funding for the for up to 500 people. In fact, QR will invest portfolio for the 2000-01 financial year will give $646m in capital works in 2000-01 to stimulate a major boost to transport road infrastructure economic activity and employment operations and services and give impetus to opportunities. economic development throughout My Government has also again Queensland. recognised the vital economic role that ports Queensland Transport's controlled throughout Queensland play in terms of operating budget is more than $1.2 billion for business opportunity, economic development this financial year, whereas Main Roads has a and job creation. To that end, $208m will be $2.1 billion operating budget which includes a spent this financial year on capital works at $1.2 billion allocation to allow Main Roads to ports throughout Queensland. The funding conduct its business. Analysis of the funding represents a 9.5% increase on 1999-2000 spread reflects the Government's commitment ports spending. This figure includes $15.7m at to jobs growth, regional development, Dalrymple Bay, $7.9m at Townsville, $8.3m at improved roads and improved public transport Mackay and $25m in Cairns to commence facilities and services. I would like to implementation of the 12 precincts of the city emphasise that there is a balance in the port project. portfolio and, increasingly, decisions are While the needs of regional Queensland reflecting an integrated view of the transport have been strongly recognised this financial task. While the passenger transport issues year, my Government's commitment to being handled in Queensland Transport are developing a world-class integrated transport predominantly urban, road issues and road network in the south-east corner of the State investment are more significant outside south- will also be strongly progressed. The busway east Queensland. component of the South East Transit Project The programs within the Transport and will be completed this financial year, following Main Roads portfolio provide a strong budget funding of $156m. There are a range foundation for future economic growth of other initiatives there that I will probably throughout the State while meeting the mention during questioning. demands of existing communities and rapid Main Roads has a $2.1 billion operating population growth and industry expansion. budget, which includes a $1.2 billion budget to Transport is about delivering more than just manage, plan, construct and maintain economic outcomes, and I am confident that Queensland's State controlled road network Main Roads and Queensland Transport will within the overall transport task. This Main continue to deliver roads and other related Roads budget outcome reflects the Beattie transport infrastructure and services which will Government's continuing commitment to help progressively to increase the standard of improving Queensland's road system. It living and quality of life for all Queenslanders. provides $984m to deliver the Roads Queensland Transport's controlled Implementation Program through its four operating budget of $1.269 billion will strongly regional and 14 district offices throughout the assist in developing, maintaining and State. This Regional Roads Program covers enhancing transport systems controlled and Federal Government funded national highway administered by the department, both in projects and roads of national importance regional centres and in south-east contributions, State funded allocations for Queensland. Headlining my Government's works on the State controlled road network, 3 Aug 2000 Estimates C—Transport and Main Roads 179 subsidies to local governments for local road port authorities, are still in the process of upgrades and supporting network planning, negotiation. The State Government has network administration, road network operation engaged Deutsche Bank to undertake an and use, and programmed administration analysis of the debt-to-equity ratios of the activities. The roads funding allocation will Government owned corporations, the sustain jobs for about 17,500 workers in roads Queensland port authorities, and in that and other industries supporting the roads process, they have had consultation with port effort. authorities around Queensland in order to This Government's commitment to make a determination about appropriate levels regional and rural Queensland is reflected in of debt that the port authorities can sustain. 2000-01 regional roadworks programs Essentially, as I say, those matters are still approved as part of the current Roads being discussed and negotiated. The final Implementation Program. Highlights are reports of the Deutsche Bank have been $700m for State funded construction and received by the port authorities in recent times, maintenance of State controlled roads, which and Queensland Treasury and Queensland continues in 2000-01 and includes an ongoing Transport officials are having discussions with allocation of $30m a year for the Rural and the port authorities.