Construction will start on the Brisbane airport link by July.
Garry
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To: coal.comms.pol@merddyn.apana.org.au
From: treasurer@cabinet.qld.gov.au
Subject: Qld. Media statement - Joint Release with Joan Sheldon MLA, Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for The Arts and Vaughan Johnson MLA, Minister for Transport and Main Roads
Errors-To: harrisa@citec.qld.gov.au
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 10:05:36 +1000
Message-ID: <19980422000536.AAA3153@inet6.citec.com.au>
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for the Arts, HON. J. M. SHELDON
21/4/98
Joint Release with Joan Sheldon MLA, Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for The Arts and Vaughan Johnson MLA, Minister for Transport and Main Roads
BRISBANE AIRPORT RAIL LINK DEED SIGNED
The Coalition Government and Airtrain Citylink Ltd have entered into a legal
agreement which will lead to the construction and operation of a rail link to
Brisbane Airport.
Deputy Premier and Treasurer Joan Sheldon, in a joint announcement with
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Vaughan Johnson, said today that a deed
had been formally signed which would allow Airtrain, a private sector proponent,
to finance, design, construct, maintain and operate the Brisbane Airport Rail Link
(BARL).
Mrs Sheldon said the execution of the deed would allow Airtrain to begin on-site
construction of the rail link by July.
"The construction program allows Airtrain to meet its obligations within two
years and allow the rail link to be operational by June 2000, in time for the
Sydney Olympics," she said.
Airtrain, whose shareholders are Macquarie Corporate Finance Ltd, Transfield,
Reduct Pty Ltd and Clarke and Kann, was awarded an exclusive mandate by the
State Government in May 1996 to develop a detailed proposal for a rail link to the
Brisbane Airport.
"Under the subsequent proposal, Airtrain indicated it would commit $190 million
of private sector funds for the construction, operation and maintenance of the rail
link.
"Airtrain has told us that the project will provide 400 jobs for its two year
construction period and 50 full time equivalent positions for its operational
phase."
"The signing of the deed represents a major milestone in the implementation of
State policy on Private Sector Involvement in Public Infrastructure and Service
Delivery.
"Airtrain has proposed a dedicated rail link joining the existing North Coast line
at Eagle Junction," the Treasurer said.
Mr Johnson said that the rail link would transport passengers to two elevated
stations one adjacent to the Brisbane International Terminal and the other to
the Brisbane domestic terminal.
Under terms of the agreement, Airtrain will transfer the Brisbane Airport Rail
Link back to the State Government after 35 years.
Mr Johnson said the Airtrain proposal had been underpinned by detailed
engineering and project definition and a financial feasibility study.
"This project will have significant positive ramifications for the people of south-east Queensland, not only in terms of increasing transport options to Brisbane
Airport but also environmentally by reducing a large number of road trips," Mr
Johnson said.
"Detailed patronage studies have been undertaken for the project by Airtrain,
forecasting rail passenger numbers of around 2.3 million for the first year of
operation.
"Airtrain has forecast patronage figures to rise to 4.6 million in the fifth year, and
eventually to 16.5 million by 2035.
"The obvious positive impact, both environmentally and from a co-ordinated
transport perspective, will be enormous," said Mr Johnson.
A draft Impact Assessment Study has been completed and is currently on display
at Brisbane City Council and the Department of Environment.
Further info Please contact Bruce Ruddy, Senior Ministerial Media Adviser on (07)3224 6900 or Neil Hamilton-Smith on (07)3237 1949
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