Greens launch Roads to Rail policy at future railway station

The Greens plan calls for Government to deal with climate change, oil depletion and congestion by funding rail for mass transit and freight, rather than roads and private transport.

“Instead of a plan to address climate change, this election campaign is simply offering ad hoc expenditure on roads aimed at winning votes in marginal seats. Where is the funding for public transport, to give people cheap and sustainable transport choices?” asked Ms Waters.

“The Commonwealth has invested $58 billion in roads over the past thirty years, but only $2.2 billion in rail. The Greens want to see this trend reversed because public transport is a crucial part of the solution to climate change,” Ms Waters said.

“The Greens Roads to Rails policy calls for 25% of the $22.3 billion AusLink 2 transport funding to be allocated to mass transit like rail for 2009-14, lifting to above 50% beyond 2014. Only then will Government priorities begin reflect the need to deal with climate change, oil depletion and congestion,” said Ms Waters.

The Greens want the heavy rail extension from Beerwah to Caloundra to be fast tracked and built 17 years early, within the next term of government with funding support from the federal government.

Greens candidate for Fairfax Dave Norris said “Roads to Rails would see the federal Government, with matching State funding, supporting projects like the heavy rail extension from Beerwah to Caloundra. These projects will significantly reduce greenhouse emissions and increase energy security.”

Greens candidate for Fisher, transport researcher Dr Matt Gray said “A rail line from Beerwah to Caloundra with lots of smaller bus or light-rail 'feeder' services could see much of the freight, commuter and holiday traffic using this lower-energy, less polluting transport mode.

“A two-track rail-line to Caloundra can carry the same volume of passengers and freight as a six-lane freeway with lower energy use, much lower greenhouse emissions, taking only a quarter of the width, and at much less cost,” said Dr Gray. 

Air pollution, congestion and peak oil are already starting to bite hard on the Sunshine Coast.

“The growth and prosperity of the region has been based on building roads, roads and more roads.  But as the Sunshine Coast population expands every year, residents are increasingly feeling the impact of the road 'triple whammy': congestion, peak oil and pollution,” said Ms Waters.

“The CAMCOS railway needs to bring passengers and freight to Caloundra and the Sunshine Coast now, not when the generation of children yet to be born are old enough to vote” said Ms Waters.

“In this age of serious climate change and rapidly rising petrol prices, we need to be encouraging public transport use, starting by providing safe, reliable and frequent services.

“This is also an equity issue. As the price of petrol continues to soar, people in the Sunshine Coast will be paying more and more to get around. It is government’s responsibility to provide those people with cheap and sustainable public transport options.

“In the Senate, I will fight for federal funding for public transport throughout Queensland,” concluded Ms Waters.
 
The full Roads to Rail policy can be found here:
http://greens.org.au/content-data/473b856385bda/Roads%20to%20Rails.pdf.
 
For more information:
 
Larissa Waters
Australian Greens lead Senate candidate for Queensland  
larissa.waters@qld.greens.org.au
 
Dr Matthew Gray
Australian Greens candidate for Fisher
fisher@qld.greens.org.au
 
Dave Norris
Australian Greens candidate for Fairfax
fairfax@qld.greens.org.au