2 July 2013

Toot! Toot! Capital Metro not on the National Infrastructure Plan

| johnboy
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The Liberals Alistair Coe is having some fun with today’s National Infrastructure Plan:

The report details many projects across Australia, with the aim being “to provide governments and the community with a clear set of actions to take advantage of the opportunities…”

“The fact that the Government’s light rail project does not even warrant a mention, despite Simon Corbell’s claims that the ACT Government has been in communication with Infrastructure Australia, raises even more questions about the viability of the project,” Mr Coe today.

“Rather than include light rail, the report says that bus lanes would be worth pursuing.


UPDATE: Simon Corbell’s office have provided a statement in response:

“The ACT Government will continue to work with Infrastructure Australia to establish light rail in Canberra.

The ACT Government made a submission to Infrastructure Australia in August 2012, seeking funding for the development of a segregated rapid transit corridor which could be either bus rapid transit or light rail transit. The ACT Government submission did not recommend a preference between the two.

In January 2013, Minister Corbell advised Infrastructure Australia of the Government’s decision to proceed with the Capital Metro light rail project.

The ACT Government will continue to keep Infrastructure Australia informed of the progress of the Capital Metro project, and the studies which support it as they evolve.”

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davo101 said :

damien haas said :

Johnboy, perhaps you shoud have read the IA report before creating your misleading post title.

Here’s a crazy idea: perhaps Alistair Coe should have read the report before churning out a press release.

I dont disagree, but the project *is* on the IA plan, which makes the post title misleading.

damien haas said :

Johnboy, perhaps you shoud have read the IA report before creating your misleading post title.

Here’s a crazy idea: perhaps Alistair Coe should have read the report before churning out a press release.

Now with a response from Simon Corbell

Johnboy, perhaps you shoud have read the IA report before creating your misleading post title. IA have provided support by listing the project, but it doesn’t appear to have funding attached at this stage. This is an improvement over the previous IA submission for light rail – which never complied with the guidelines and disappeared without even formal acknowledgement.

I’d imagine that the engineering reports and costings that are being conducted right now, for the Capital Metro project, are what were required in the period of preparation for the report released today.

The ACT light Rail response is here:

http://www.actlightrail.info/2013/07/infrastructure-australia-supports-civic.html

Cute, I notice Mr Coe trails off before the part of the recommendation that says: the project needs to be accompanied by a change in the pricing of parking in Civic and other centres in Canberra.

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