LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF QUEENSLAND PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A STANDARD GAUGE RAIL LINE TO FISHERMAN ISLANDS Report No. 44 PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MEMBERS Mr Len Stephan MLA (Chairman) Member for Gympie Mr Bill D’Arcy MLA (Deputy Chairman) Member for Woodridge Mr Graham Healy MLA Member for Toowoomba North Mr Pat Purcell MLA Member for Bulimba Mr Ted Radke MLA Member for Greenslopes Hon Geoff Smith MLA Member for Townsville SECRETARIAT Mr Les Dunn Research Director Ms Alison Wishart Research Officer Ms Maureen Barnes Executive Assistant CONTENTS Page PREFACE ............................................................................................................................ i TABLES .............................................................................................................................. ii DIAGRAMS........................................................................................................................ ii MAPS .................................................................................................................................. ii ABBREVIATIONS............................................................................................................ iii RECOMMENDATIONS....................................................................................................iv INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................1 THE COMMITTEE ...................................................................................................1 SCOPE OF INQUIRY................................................................................................2 SUBMISSIONS, INSPECTION AND HEARINGS ...................................................2 RESPONSIBILITY OF MINISTERS.........................................................................2 ACOUSTIC TERMINOLOGY...........................................................................................3 THE PROJECT ...................................................................................................................4 BACKGROUND TO THE PROJECT ...............................................................................6 “ONE NATION”........................................................................................................7 SUPREME COURT...................................................................................................7 TIMELINE OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS..................................................................8 1. THE STATED PURPOSE OF THE WORK AND THE SUITABILITY OF THE WORK FOR THE PURPOSE.....................................................................................10 THE PURPOSE OF THE STANDARD GAUGE LINE...........................................10 THE PURPOSE OF THE DUAL GAUGE LINE .....................................................10 SUITABILITY OF THE WORK..............................................................................11 Southern routes.............................................................................................11 Dutton Park to Fisherman Islands alternatives ...............................................12 Freight trains and residential areas.................................................................13 2. THE NECESSITY FOR, AND THE ADVISABILITY OF, THE WORK ................15 THE STANDARD GAUGE PART OF THE PROJECT...........................................15 THE NARROW GAUGE PART OF THE PROJECT...............................................15 3. THE VALUE FOR MONEY ACHIEVED, OR LIKELY TO BE ACHIEVED, BY THE PROJECT............................................................................................................17 PROJECT BUDGET................................................................................................17 BUDGET OVERRUNS ...........................................................................................18 ECONOMIC EVALUATION ..................................................................................19 ECONOMIC IMPACTS...........................................................................................22 LONG TERM VALUE FOR MONEY.....................................................................23 4. REVENUE PRODUCED BY AND THE RECURRENT COSTS OF THE WORK.24 REVENUE PRODUCED BY THE PROJECT.........................................................24 RECURRENT COSTS OF THE PROJECT .............................................................24 Operations ....................................................................................................24 Maintenance..................................................................................................24 5. THE PUBLIC VALUE OF THE WORK AND THE IMPACT OF THE WORK ON THE COMMUNITY, ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT...............................26 NOISE LEVELS......................................................................................................26 NOISE MITIGATION MEASURES........................................................................28 Noise barriers................................................................................................29 Reducing wheel squeal ..................................................................................31 Locomotive exhaust silencers ........................................................................32 Building insulation.........................................................................................32 ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION POLICY (NOISE) 1997.....................................33 COAL DUST EMISSIONS......................................................................................34 Reducing coal dust emissions ........................................................................36 PUBLIC VALUE OF THE WORK ..........................................................................37 6. THE PROCUREMENT METHODS FOR THE WORK...........................................38 7. THE BALANCE OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR INVOLVEMENT IN THE WORK.................................................................................................................39 8. THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY FOR THE WORK..........................................................................................................................41 BUDGET PERFORMANCE....................................................................................41 PROGRAM PERFORMANCE.................................................................................41 WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY ................................................................42 REFERENCE LIST...........................................................................................................43 APPENDIX A — CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS................................................................45 APPENDIX B — LIST OF SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED................................................46 APPENDIX C — LIST OF WITNESSES.........................................................................50 APPENDIX D — EXHIBITS ............................................................................................51 APPENDIX E — LIST OF MAPS ....................................................................................52 Preface Standard gauge rail line to Fisherman Islands PREFACE This report concerns the work of Queensland Transport (QT) and Queensland Rail (QR) in constructing a standard gauge rail line to the Port of Brisbane at Fisherman Islands. The committee examined in detail the evidence pertaining to each of the terms of reference. The committee thinks that the route chosen for the line is suitable, but accepts that other routes would also have been suitable. There is evidence that original estimates for the project may not have been correct as the estimated expenditure, jobs created and projected use of the line have all been discredited. It is interesting to speculate whether the government would have made the same decision if it had had more accurate information to base its decision on. This inquiry has drawn unprecedented public interest due to the impact of the rail lines in this corridor on the local community and environment. The negative impacts of the rail lines in the Yeerongpilly to Fisherman Islands corridor are real and significant. The report addresses the community’s concerns and makes recommendations where appropriate. Solutions to the two main problems, high noise levels and coal dust emissions, involve considerable expense. The committee, appreciating the dilemma which QR faces in trying to be a “good neighbour” but also trying to meet its corporate and commercial goals, recommends extra funding for these two areas. The committee’s attitude to the new dual gauge line is that since the line is there, the government needs to develop strategies to maximise its use but minimise its negative impact on the community. The construction of noise barriers, eventual introduction of quieter locomotives and marketing of the line by the National Rail Corporation will help to achieve these objectives. I thank my fellow committee members for their assistance during the inquiry and the committee secretariat staff for their efforts. Thanks also to the many people and groups who made submissions to the committee and attended the public hearing. Len Stephan MLA Chairman (i) Tables, diagrams & maps Standard gauge rail line to Fisherman Islands TABLES Table 1: Estimated costs for the project...........................................................................17