Transport measures for the Beaudesert Electorate

Today local Queensland Greens Candidate, Andy Grodecki used the visit of Ronan Lee, Queensland Greens MP for Indooroopilly to launch the public transport policy for the Beaudesert Electorate. At Andy Grodecki’s invitation Mr Ronan Lee MP toured the electorate to gain a better understanding of the appalling state of public transport across the electorate and the failure of successive governments to deliver on their promises on public transport. Andy Grodecki launched the transport measures with visits to Jimboomba, Tamborine Mountain, Canungra, Beaudesert and Boonah. He said “The Queensland Greens will turn around twenty years of neglect and provide the public transport that our community has demanded for so long”.
Background
We need to develop a public transport system that meets the needs of our community and is more attractive than the use of the private car. This must include a funding model that ensures public transport services are provided under community service obligations where demand is too low for economically viable services (most of the Beaudesert Electorate). Oil depletion and global warming make our present transport arrangements, based on the personal vehicle, unsustainable. To respond to these we have an urgent need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Communities across the Beaudesert Electorate have pressed for better public transport for over 20 years from an upgrade of the interstate line to more bus services across the region. None of this has been delivered by successive Queensland governments. The Queensland Green will turn this around.
Queensland’s transport system must function on principles of ecological sustainability, equity of access and public ownership of critical public transport infrastructure. The planning for transport in Queensland must give high priority to environmental and social impacts. As an essential element of a modern economy, this includes a high quality and affordable Queensland rail network integrated with the national rail network.
Human settlements and their transport services must be designed and built to minimise environmental harm and maximise social well-being. New urban developments must minimise urban sprawl and be environmentally sound, public-transport friendly and must facilitate community interaction.
The measures for the Beaudesert Electorate are based upon the principles and goals of the relevant policies of the Queensland Greens - http://qld.greens.org.au/policies/Qld-policies/transport/ .
Beaudesert Electorate Measures
The Queensland Greens will:
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Introduce regular and affordable passenger services for the Beaudesert Electorate that include:
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Six additional services (three services each way) for the Beaudesert to Brisbane corridor;
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Establish an east-west passenger route connecting Boonah, Rathdowney, Beaudesert, Tamborine Village, Tamborine Mountain and Canungra to Nerang;
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Provision of passengers services on the upgraded interstate line to all stations to Bromelton by 2011; and
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Establish park-n-ride facilities at all major stops along these routes.
These measures will be achieved by:
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Reform of the Queensland Transport, Main Roads, SEQ Regional Infrastructure policies, plans (for road & rail, passenger & freight) and their capital/operating funding arrangements to achieve the rapid development of regular and affordable passenger services;
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Bringing forward public transport infrastructure spending ahead of highway upgrades and instead of dam construction;
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Establishing a public transport planning committee involving all key stakeholder groups to plan and deliver the local public transport measures; and
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Removal of incentives for people to do the wrong thing e.g. unnecessary use of fossil fuels and introduction of new incentives to develop a public transport system that is more attractive than private car use.
Contact Andy Grodecki at:
Email: grodecki@gil.com.au
Mobile: 0411 361 044