[Greens-Media] Qld Greens media release: Lord Mayor must come clean on tunnel promises

[Qld Greens Media]

  Qld Greens media release


  Lord Mayor must come clean on tunnel promises

6 Sept 2006 -
Greens Candidate for Clayfield and noted urban transport advocate, Mr 
Justin Wells, today is calling upon the Lord Mayor Campbell Newman to 
come clean on his failed promises about transport in Brisbane.

As construction works by RiverCity Motorway commence for the North South 
Bypass Tunnel, it is time to ensure the Lord Mayor and RCM are held 
responsible for failing to deliver on promises.
/** Promise 1 -*/ the full 5 tunnel TransApex project will cost a 
maximum of $16.37 per ratepayer per year (/Courier Mail /23/03/04).

*/The facts - /Campbell Newman has delivered three budgets...ratepayers 
have forked out $526 each already! (400,000 ratepayers - 04/05 budget - 
$65 each, 05/06 budget - $251 each, 06/07 budget $210 each).*
/** Promise 2 - */The full 5 tunnel TransApex project will cost 
ratepayers a maximum of $25m in his first term as Lord Mayor (/Courier 
Mail /26/03/04).

*The facts - After 2.5 years into this Council term, TransApex has 
already cost $206m.*

/*Promise 3 - */Tolls for the TransApex tunnels will be $2 (Campbell 
Newman's 'Moving Brisbane' election policy document).

*/The facts - /the toll for the NSBT will be a minimum of $4.10 one way.*

*/* Promise 4 -/* The tolling period for the TransApex tunnels will be 
35 years (/Courier Mail/ 26/03/04).

*/The facts -/ The tolling period for the NSBT will be 45 years - 10 
years longer than what was promised.*

/**Promise 5* – /Affected landowners will be properly compensated.

*/The facts –/ Most landowners who have either been evicted or have been 
served notice have not been paid. One landowner alone stands to lose 
over $10M.*
“In any other organisation in Australia, Cr Newman would be sacked for 
incompetence,” Mr Wells said.

"The only satisfactory outcome for the residents of Brisbane is for the 
Minister for Local Government and Planning to sack the Lord Mayor, 
appoint the Deputy Mayor until elections can be called and instigate a 
Royal Commission into claims the Liberal administration has favoured 
developers who are major political donors as well as investigate the 
failure under law to properly acquire and pay affected landowners.

“Cr Newman appears to have deceived and obfuscated about the NSBT and 
TransApex proposal, stripping funds from other Council services to 
conceal his cost over-runs.

"My concern is that this is an indication of things to come for those 
land owners affected by the Airport Link,” Mr Wells said.

"It is no wonder the Coalition is committing to subsidise these two 
tunnels to the tune of $1.4 billion. They know Cr Newman is in deep 
trouble, and about to dig himself deeper.”


*Justin Wells <mailto:clayfield at qld.greens.org.au>
Candidate for Clayfield 
<http://qld.greens.org.au/media-releases/resolveuid/d0343142902beadc0c550e9e951bc274>
Ph.0423 119 660*

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www.qld.greens.org.au

State election Spokesperson. Juanita Wheeler 0402 487 110

Queensland Greens media spokespeople.

Climate Change and Indigenous. Drew Hutton 0428 487 110
Human Rights and Environment. Juanita Wheeler 0402 487 110
Transport and Planning. Greg George 0424 725 719

Queensland Greens campaign coordinator.
Ian Gittus 0422 542 370

Office 3846 0862
fax 3844 4654

www.qld.greens.org.au