[QLD] Brisbane Light Rail Scrapped

[Colin Weaver <weaver@powerup.com.au>]

The Brisbane Light Rail project has been scrapped.  The channel 2, 7 and
9 news tonight all reported the abandonment of the project, due to cost
blowout and concern about it increasing inner city congestion (!!).  It
looks like the scare campaign by the RACQ and Property Council of
Australia hit home - as did the lack of support for the project from the
Soorley administration (maybe Clem's been having a word in Lord Jim's
ear?).

It was interesting that both the channel 2 and 7 news got it completely
wrong, showing artwork and network maps from the earlier BrizTram
project which went belly up two years ago.  Of the reports I saw, only
channel 9 got the name of the project right, or used the correct artists
impressions.

It looks to me like light rail in Brisbane is dead in the water for the
time being - the only light rail proposal in QLD which is still alive is
the Gold Coast proposal which has firmed up considerably in recent
months. 

It was also reported that Peter Beattie raised discussed the issue of
the $65 million Centenary of Federation funding for the project with the
PM during the recent trip to the UK - and that the funding should be
diverted to another public transport project in Brisbane (Kippa-Ring? -
the recent announcements about the choice of heavy rail fit with the
timing of this announcement).

I guess this is vindication for those of you who thought light rail
would never get up in Brisbane.  Guess who won't be voting for this
government come the next state election!

--Colin