The document says governments will need to make better use of existing services due to a lack of funding, land, and goodwill for new infrastructure.
The document says governments will need to make better use of existing services due to a lack of funding, land, and goodwill for new infrastructure.
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- Queensland
- Public Transport
By Sean Parnell
February 20, 2025 — 5.00am
A state government transport strategy drafted in response to the latest south-east Queensland regional plan warns of congested roads and at-capacity public transport as the population continues to grow.
But the 256-page document, obtained under the Right to Information Act, says there are limits to what can be done about it, and suggests “creative” solutions be prioritised ahead of new roads and rail lines.
The draft report of the South-East Queensland Regional Transport Plans was obtained by this masthead amid a parliamentary debate over the cost of major projects and Queensland’s deteriorating budget position.
With the region continuing to grow, and Greater Brisbane set to be home to a majority of Queensland residents within months, the future depicted in the draft report is more of a transport evolution than revolution.
Neither the former Labor government nor the current LNP government has a comprehensive plan to avoid gridlock, and the upcoming federal election will again put Commonwealth funding contributions in the spotlight.
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“Meeting this additional demand will present a challenge as many transport corridors and facilities are already reaching capacity, especially during peak periods of travel,” the draft report states.
“Expanding capacity to meet demand is costly, usually only provides a short-term solution and is not sustainable.”
In 2023, the former Labor government released a new south-east Queensland regional plan, outlining how it expected to accommodate the growing population.
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That was meant to trigger an update of the underlying transport plans, however the 2024 draft was never finalised, and the document released under the RTI Act is marked “not government policy”.
While successive governments have sought to progress so-called “region-shaping” projects, some – such as the Sunshine Coast rail extension, the Bruce Highway western alternative, and the Gold Coast light rail extension – remain under a cloud, particularly due to the multibillion-dollar cost.
“The planning, delivery and maintenance of transport infrastructure is a significant cost for all levels of government,” the draft report states.
“On top of this, constrained corridors, the scarcity of land, and impacts to communities mean that investments must be balanced appropriately.”
The draft report suggests governments “identify tailored creative infrastructure and staging solutions and make better use of existing assets”.
It highlights the need to deal with buses running at full capacity on key routes through Brisbane, while also adding to inner-city congestion, as well as the constrained rail network.
Possible options include better co-ordination of services and connections, an extension of Brisbane City Council’s new Metro network, priority bus lanes, and more carparks at railway stations.
“Providing additional capacity on public transport networks can more efficiently respond to growth and encourage mode shift to reduce emissions, however this also requires costly investments,” it states.
In parliament on Wednesday, the Labor opposition used question time to ask how the LNP government could honour its election commitment to deliver projects, including a rail extension to Maroochydore, on time and on budget.
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Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg responded by pointing to problems with the Cross River Rail project, and a new fire station being built in a corridor preserved for a Gateway Motorway upgrade.
“It is literally like an episode of Utopia,” Mickelberg said.
“Ultimately, Queenslanders know what Labor’s record is when it comes to delivering transport infrastructure.”
Former premier Steven Miles later attacked Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie over a conflict of interest, wrongly claiming it had not been declared before the October election, prompting Bleijie to accuse Labor of being “desperate and disgraceful”.
Bleijie said the LNP remained committed to the Sunshine Coast rail extension.
With the state budget due to be handed down in June, the government will soon receive a draft of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games venue and governance review.
While much of the focus has been on Brisbane stadiums, Premier David Crisafulli has repeatedly said the review would also help the government deliver legacy transport infrastructure for the region.
The draft report states that the Games are an “opportunity to accelerate planned investment for road, public transport links, cycling and walking infrastructure”.
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Sean Parnell is the Editor of Brisbane Times. He has won journalism awards for analysis, investigations, news and sport, written a biography, and has a Graduate Certificate in (Digital) Business Administration. Sean lives in Brisbane with his family.Connect via Twitter or email.
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