Independent Candidate proposes congestion and parking solution for Caboolture and surrounds.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Caboolture, 6 August 2010: Independent Candidate for Longman, Michael Van Boeckel, has proposed a solution to Caboolture’s parking and congestion woes. He suggests the rehabilitation, electrification, and reopening of the Wamuran rail branch from Caboolture to Moodlu at first, then to Wamuran itself.
Calculations against similar projects such as the promised Petrie-Kippa-Ring rail line, Caboolture-Beerburrum duplication, and Perth-Mandurah railway, compare it favourably to current proposals to increase parking space around Caboolture station. The per-linear-kilometre cost of the Caboolture-Moodlu section of the line should come in between $30m/Linear-KM and $135m/Linear-KM, using Perth-Mandurah and Petrie-Kippa-Ring as the low and high cases. Existing plans to allieviate congestion and parking concrens in the CBD, such as adding an extra floor to the multi-storey parking garage, and the additional 87 spaces off Beerburrum road are welcome, but are short-term. Neither adequately addresses either issue as they do not move traffic and all-day parking out of the CBD.
As the rail corridor has been preserved, few, if any property acquisitions would be required. The Caboolture-Moodlu section is dead straight and almost flat, and the perway appears in good order, perhaps requiring comparatively little in the way of remediation works apart from re-sleepering, re-ballasting, and clearing of drains and culverts, suggesting that costs could come in at or below the low-end estimate. A new bridge at Wamuran would be required.
Mr Van Boeckel suggests at least two stations for the Caboolture-Moodlu phase of the project: Moodlu itself, and a minimal, daytime-only station at Tullawong School. In the second phase of the project, a full station at Wamuran proper should be built, using the old rail yards. A third stage would extend the line to Woodford. Up to 100 parking spaces could be available at Tullawong and Moodlu, and 200 or more at Wamuran. Each stage of the project would require an additional three-or-six-car train to service the line. Passing loops would be provided at Moodlu, Wamuran, and Woodford.
Reopening the rail line to Wamuran and Woodford will reduce wear and tear on roads and vehicles, reduce Greenhouse Gas and particulate emissions, improve urban air quality, reduce reliance on imported fuel, and assist local businesses, who are well-placed to provide for hungry and busy commuters at the beginning and end of their day.
Mr Van Boeckel suggests that the first phase of the project be placed into the same tender as the Petrie-Kippa-Ring line, and that construction on it should begin first, as it will be completed more quickly.
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For more information, contact Michael Van Boeckel via email at van.boeckel.m@aanet.com.au, or via fax on 07 5428 0742.
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