Auditor General's report confirms residents' fears

The Auditor General’s report on transport planning affirms what the Greens and other critics of Queensland’s inadequate public transport system have been saying for years.

Queensland Greens spokesperson Libby Connors today urged the Queensland government to cancel ridiculous money wasting white elephants such as the West End to New Farm City Glider proposal and instead invest in a light rail system and upgrades to the existing heavy rail.

‘The Premier never had the courage to stand up to the Brisbane Lord Mayor over the Hale St Link even when it was opposed by West End residents, her own constituents and the state’s motoring association.  It was never part of state transport planning and is now contributing to the state’s exorbitant debt levels which will burden all Queenslanders for many years.

‘She and the new minister for Transport should now have the courage to at least cancel ill-thought out proposals such as the City Glider which will simply put bigger buses in a section of the city which is already well-serviced with public transport.’

The Greens urged the new minister for Transport to use the Auditor General’s damning report to put in place effective congestion-busting public transport schemes.

‘An urgent priority for Brisbane is an upgrade of the rail network
including a southside-western  loop connecting  Corinda and Yeerongpilly stations,’ Libby Connors said.

‘We also need feeder buses connecting suburbs to the nearest train station and a light rail network to plug the many gaps in the heavy rail system.’

‘For too long the state government has been listening to Brisbane’s engineering-obsessed lord mayor and the car lobby instead of investing in the public transport required of a world-class city.’

Contact: Libby Connors 0429 487 110