JOINT STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER
THE HON JOHN HOWARD MP
AND THE QUEENSLAND PREMIER
THE HON ROB BORBIDGE MLA
BRISBANE LIGHT RAIL - FEDERATION FUND PROJECT
Prime Minister John Howard today announced that the Commonwealth Government
would commit $65 million from its Federation Fund to the construction of a
light rail network in Brisbane.
Mr Howard's pledge came during the official opening of the Briztram Project
Office at South Brisbane, where Premier Rob Borbidge and Deputy Premier and
Treasurer Joan Sheldon were on hand to welcome the news.
The Brisbane Light Rail Project was nominated as the Queensland
Government's first priority for assistance from the Federation Fund.
This project is expected to cost around $210 million in total and will
create an estimated 3,000 jobs in its construction phase, with a further
150 jobs created from the ongoing operation of the system.
This $65 million support is subject to acceptance by the Queensland
government of a private sector tender to build and operate the network.
The Queensland government has an ambitious plan - that by the Centenary of
Federation in 2001 Brisbane will have a modern, advanced technology light
rail network that will be able to carry more than 40,000 passengers each day.
This plan was developed by the State Government in conjunction with the 18
local governments in the region and the community mindful of the need to
meet the high population growth in South East Queensland, and the
associated growth in travel demand.
"The Brisbane Light Rail Project to provide Brisbane with a world-class
integrated transport system is a visionary project for the new millennium",
Mr Howard said.
"Not only will it provide a more convenient system for distributing people
around the inner city Brisbane area, but, the system also has the potential
to benefit tourism, urban renewal and the environment."
Premier Borbidge said the state-of-the-art, light-rail system would pump
new life into Brisbane's inner-city suburbs and would be a tangible sign of
the city's progress into the new millennium.
"The State Government's dream has been for a world-class transport system
for a world-class city."
"I sincerely thank the Prime Minister and look forward to inviting him back
to officially launch the very first Briztram in 2001," Mr Borbidge said.
Deputy Premier and Treasurer Joan Sheldon said this exciting new Coalition
project signalled a tram-driven renaissance for the city of Brisbane.
"I predict this tram system will become as much a symbol of Brisbane as the
famous cable cars of San Francisco."
Mr Borbidge said a light rail option was clearly set out in the Integrated
Regional Transport Plan for South East Queensland and would be consistent
with overall transport planning.
13 March 1998
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