True, and safe. There will be a huge number of patrons that will choose this interchange instead of Salisbury. Many people would rather drive a little further to feel safer, day or night....UrbanSG wrote:
I mean look how welcoming that station is even at night. The lighting is excellent.
News & Discussion: Other Transport Projects
Incident on the O-Bahn yesterday morning:
O-Bahn crash bus 'not suited' to track
By MICHAEL OWEN
25apr06
A FORMER bus driver - sacked after raising fears about O-Bahn safety - has claimed yesterday's crash at Klemzig involved a bus that was not designed for use on the track.
Driver error was blamed for the bus missing the O-Bahn track and crashing into a drain near Klemzig station about 9.30am. No passengers were on board and the driver was unhurt.
The incident caused damage to the track, which will be closed for the rest of the week between Klemzig and Tea Tree Plaza.
Former driver Phil Kavanagh, 38, of Salisbury, said yesterday's accident could have been worse. "The bus involved was a rear-wheel steer bus," he said. "Those buses are not designed for the O-Bahn track."
Mr Kavanagh wrote to Transport Minister Patrick Conlon in January about a range of issues, including safety concerns.
Labor MP for Florey, Frances Bedford, also received complaints from drivers about O-Bahn safety and sent them to Mr Conlon. The concerns of Mr Kavanagh, and nine other drivers who wanted to remain anonymous, include:
DRIVERS working up to 100 hours a week.
O-BAHN radio system not being manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week because of staffing issues.
SOME buses not travelling safe distances apart.
PROBLEMS with an emergency system that warns other drivers of accidents or hazards on the track ahead.
Mr Kavanagh was dismissed by Torrens Transit on March 24 after being quoted in the Messenger Press about O-Bahn safety.
Mr Kavanagh, represented by industrial relations advocate and former ALP deputy leader Ralph Clarke, will appear in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission tomorrow for a conciliation conference as part of an unfair dismissal claim against Torrens Transit.
A spokesman for Mr Conlon yesterday confirmed representatives from the Office of Public Transport and a ministerial representative had met Mr Kavanagh on March 30 to discuss a range of issues about O-Bahn safety. Torrens Transit managing director Neil Smith acknowledged the bus was not equipped with a driver's seat belt and was 20 years old. He said new Scania brand buses were being delivered to replace ageing buses and he hoped they would be running within the next four weeks.
Mr Smith said problems with the emergency alarm system, which affected the company's 650 bus radios, had been fixed this month - 10 months after it first became aware of the faults.
O-Bahn users should call 8210 1000 for alternative arrangements while the track is repaired.
O-Bahn crash bus 'not suited' to track
By MICHAEL OWEN
25apr06
A FORMER bus driver - sacked after raising fears about O-Bahn safety - has claimed yesterday's crash at Klemzig involved a bus that was not designed for use on the track.
Driver error was blamed for the bus missing the O-Bahn track and crashing into a drain near Klemzig station about 9.30am. No passengers were on board and the driver was unhurt.
The incident caused damage to the track, which will be closed for the rest of the week between Klemzig and Tea Tree Plaza.
Former driver Phil Kavanagh, 38, of Salisbury, said yesterday's accident could have been worse. "The bus involved was a rear-wheel steer bus," he said. "Those buses are not designed for the O-Bahn track."
Mr Kavanagh wrote to Transport Minister Patrick Conlon in January about a range of issues, including safety concerns.
Labor MP for Florey, Frances Bedford, also received complaints from drivers about O-Bahn safety and sent them to Mr Conlon. The concerns of Mr Kavanagh, and nine other drivers who wanted to remain anonymous, include:
DRIVERS working up to 100 hours a week.
O-BAHN radio system not being manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week because of staffing issues.
SOME buses not travelling safe distances apart.
PROBLEMS with an emergency system that warns other drivers of accidents or hazards on the track ahead.
Mr Kavanagh was dismissed by Torrens Transit on March 24 after being quoted in the Messenger Press about O-Bahn safety.
Mr Kavanagh, represented by industrial relations advocate and former ALP deputy leader Ralph Clarke, will appear in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission tomorrow for a conciliation conference as part of an unfair dismissal claim against Torrens Transit.
A spokesman for Mr Conlon yesterday confirmed representatives from the Office of Public Transport and a ministerial representative had met Mr Kavanagh on March 30 to discuss a range of issues about O-Bahn safety. Torrens Transit managing director Neil Smith acknowledged the bus was not equipped with a driver's seat belt and was 20 years old. He said new Scania brand buses were being delivered to replace ageing buses and he hoped they would be running within the next four weeks.
Mr Smith said problems with the emergency alarm system, which affected the company's 650 bus radios, had been fixed this month - 10 months after it first became aware of the faults.
O-Bahn users should call 8210 1000 for alternative arrangements while the track is repaired.
Postgrad plea: help fix roads
Kevin Naughton
21may06
AN internal transport ministry document has revealed some of South Australia's road maintenance and infrastructure programs are unsafe, inadequate and wrongly costed - putting even more pressure on embattled Transport Minister Patrick Conlon.
The revelations – including a request for postgraduate students to review department procedures – come less than a week after the State Government sacked Transport, Energy and Infrastructure Department chief executive officer Dr James Horne, who was recruited from Canberra on a $280,000 salary a year ago.
The Sunday Mail has been told Mr Conlon was furious when staff informed him the documents had surfaced.
Sitting in the Qantas Club lounge at Darwin Airport on Friday after a conference, he was overheard criticising the performance of senior Transport Department staff.
It is understood Mr Conlon warned heads would roll – and demanded an investigation into the leaking of the document.
"You saw the document before I did," Mr Conlon told the Sunday Mail on his return to Adelaide.
"I'm amazed the concerns weren't raised with me. I've asked for a full report and will meet department officers on Monday."
The document, written in April, 2005, sets out problems in one of the major divisions of the Transport Department and, incredibly, asks the University of Adelaide's Graduate School of Business to commission postgraduate students to review procedures and recommend strategies.
The document says the department's Rural Operations Directorate, responsible for the state's country roads, has problems with its "structure, relationships, leadership style and organisational style" – and these need to be addressed.
The document says the timing of the State Budget in May each year results in "significant cost over-runs" on projects.
"This is a perennial problem that typically involves a rush of work towards the end of each financial year when conditions for road works are often poor.
" ... it encourages procurement shortcuts and risk-taking, places enormous pressure on human resources and leads to sub-optimal outcomes in terms of project quality and/or value for money."
The document says the problems have been an issue for a number of years.
Sources inside the department have also told the Sunday Mail major infrastructure projects – in metropolitan and country areas – are now being costed at well over the total $215 million estimated by the Government a year ago.
"The current crisis is the major projects and now the top man has gone," one source said.
But Mr Conlon – under siege over Dr Horne's dismissal and the possibility he could get a $400,000 termination payment – claimed many of the issues raised in the document had been dealt with.
"We are always open to improvement," he said. Asked if the safety issues – which have not been disclosed – had been rectified, he said: "I would be mortified if that has not been addressed".
Opposition transport spokesman Martin Hamilton-Smith said the document proved Labor's transport plans were in crisis. "It's a mess and they knew it and now we all know it," he said.
"I'm told the $206 million Northern Expressway project between Gawler and Port Wakefield Rd has blown out by 100 per cent. That alone puts a question mark over it and other projects," he said.
Other projects announced last year include:
TRAMLINE extension in the city – $21 million.
UNDERPASS at South Rd/Anzac Hwy intersection – $65 million.
SOUTH Rd tunnel under Port and Grange roads – $122 million.
OAKLANDS Park bus and rail interchange – $7 million.
Mr Conlon conceded while the interchange project was being reviewed, the Government was committed to all projects.
"Cost increases will be met within usual budget guidelines that could mean more borrowings or that some other expenditures will have to give."
__________________________________________________________
We're abandoned
Rob Malinauskas
21may06
FED-UP southern suburbs residents have attacked State Government plans to extend the tramline to North Tce - demanding their train service and other "inadequate" public transport be improved first.
Community resentment at transport and infrastructure failings in the region was the dominant issue among a range of concerns raised at a Sunday Mail Community Forum attended by about 150 people at Noarlunga on Tuesday night.
Several speakers said they felt "abandoned" or "isolated".
"We need more transport services in the south – it's that simple," Morphett Vale resident Paul Hancock, 55, said.
"Right now everything doesn't seem to connect up. It is very hard to get from one place to another via public transport.
"It makes you feel like you are sort of abandoned."
Mike Bennett, of Hackham West, agreed, saying the train line needed to be extended to Seaford.
"Bringing the line down to Seaford would greatly benefit the whole area," he said.
"It is so hard to get around at the moment and the train would solve a lot of those problems."
To applause he added: "Don't spend it on that little tram extension – use the money for the railway instead."
The forum, moderated by senior reporter Kevin Naughton at Noarlunga College Theatre, was the second in a highly successful series organised by the Sunday Mail.
Panel members were new MP for Mawson Leon Bignell, Opposition infrastructure spokesman Martin Hamilton-Smith, Federal Liberal MP for Kingston Kym Richardson, police Local Service Area Commander for the South Coast Superintendent Michael Cornish, Christies Beach High School principal Paul Wilson, and City of Onkaparinga deputy mayor Trevor Fletcher.
Mr Bignell defended the Government's plan to extend the tramline by 1km along King William St at a cost of $21 million.
"This tram isn't just for the city, it's for the residents in Glenelg, Adelaide, North Adelaide and surrounding suburbs," he said, over calls of anger from the crowd.
"The tram isn't our only focus; we are doing feasibility studies to determine if we can continue a train line further down south."
After the forum, Mr Hamilton-Smith said he would pressure the Government into spending the allocated tram money elsewhere.
"The opinion of the people was fairly obvious – they want better infrastructure," he said.
"Transport services, like trains and buses, is one of those infrastructure issues I will be questioning the Government about."
Youth crime – in particular graffiti – also featured prominently at the forum, with some residents calling for harsher penalties.
"We should give those caught a no-tolerance policy," 53-year-old Huntfield Heights resident Derek Mikolaj said. "If they get caught graffitiing they should get six months straight out.
"Being tough on the hoon drivers by taking their cars away has worked, so we should do the same for the vandals.
"We only have to make an example out of a few and the rest will get the message and stop."
Mr Bignell and Mr Richardson, a former police officer, agreed with Mr Mikolaj, saying the penalties should be tougher.
"Maybe it is time for the laws to be made stronger in order to punish those offenders who are caught, because we need to start winning the war," Mr Richardson said.
While unable to discuss penalties, Supt Cornish said police were doing a good job in combating vandalism.
"We are working very well with the council to prevent graffiti vandalism and we are making breakthroughs," he said.
"But we need the community's support to help us fight crime. We need them to report incidents."
Mr Wilson said harsher penalties for youths would only be a Band-Aid solution.
"Throwing them in jail will not solve anything. We should actually be supporting them instead," he said.
Other matters raised included health services, job opportunities and services in new developments.
Kevin Naughton
21may06
AN internal transport ministry document has revealed some of South Australia's road maintenance and infrastructure programs are unsafe, inadequate and wrongly costed - putting even more pressure on embattled Transport Minister Patrick Conlon.
The revelations – including a request for postgraduate students to review department procedures – come less than a week after the State Government sacked Transport, Energy and Infrastructure Department chief executive officer Dr James Horne, who was recruited from Canberra on a $280,000 salary a year ago.
The Sunday Mail has been told Mr Conlon was furious when staff informed him the documents had surfaced.
Sitting in the Qantas Club lounge at Darwin Airport on Friday after a conference, he was overheard criticising the performance of senior Transport Department staff.
It is understood Mr Conlon warned heads would roll – and demanded an investigation into the leaking of the document.
"You saw the document before I did," Mr Conlon told the Sunday Mail on his return to Adelaide.
"I'm amazed the concerns weren't raised with me. I've asked for a full report and will meet department officers on Monday."
The document, written in April, 2005, sets out problems in one of the major divisions of the Transport Department and, incredibly, asks the University of Adelaide's Graduate School of Business to commission postgraduate students to review procedures and recommend strategies.
The document says the department's Rural Operations Directorate, responsible for the state's country roads, has problems with its "structure, relationships, leadership style and organisational style" – and these need to be addressed.
The document says the timing of the State Budget in May each year results in "significant cost over-runs" on projects.
"This is a perennial problem that typically involves a rush of work towards the end of each financial year when conditions for road works are often poor.
" ... it encourages procurement shortcuts and risk-taking, places enormous pressure on human resources and leads to sub-optimal outcomes in terms of project quality and/or value for money."
The document says the problems have been an issue for a number of years.
Sources inside the department have also told the Sunday Mail major infrastructure projects – in metropolitan and country areas – are now being costed at well over the total $215 million estimated by the Government a year ago.
"The current crisis is the major projects and now the top man has gone," one source said.
But Mr Conlon – under siege over Dr Horne's dismissal and the possibility he could get a $400,000 termination payment – claimed many of the issues raised in the document had been dealt with.
"We are always open to improvement," he said. Asked if the safety issues – which have not been disclosed – had been rectified, he said: "I would be mortified if that has not been addressed".
Opposition transport spokesman Martin Hamilton-Smith said the document proved Labor's transport plans were in crisis. "It's a mess and they knew it and now we all know it," he said.
"I'm told the $206 million Northern Expressway project between Gawler and Port Wakefield Rd has blown out by 100 per cent. That alone puts a question mark over it and other projects," he said.
Other projects announced last year include:
TRAMLINE extension in the city – $21 million.
UNDERPASS at South Rd/Anzac Hwy intersection – $65 million.
SOUTH Rd tunnel under Port and Grange roads – $122 million.
OAKLANDS Park bus and rail interchange – $7 million.
Mr Conlon conceded while the interchange project was being reviewed, the Government was committed to all projects.
"Cost increases will be met within usual budget guidelines that could mean more borrowings or that some other expenditures will have to give."
__________________________________________________________
We're abandoned
Rob Malinauskas
21may06
FED-UP southern suburbs residents have attacked State Government plans to extend the tramline to North Tce - demanding their train service and other "inadequate" public transport be improved first.
Community resentment at transport and infrastructure failings in the region was the dominant issue among a range of concerns raised at a Sunday Mail Community Forum attended by about 150 people at Noarlunga on Tuesday night.
Several speakers said they felt "abandoned" or "isolated".
"We need more transport services in the south – it's that simple," Morphett Vale resident Paul Hancock, 55, said.
"Right now everything doesn't seem to connect up. It is very hard to get from one place to another via public transport.
"It makes you feel like you are sort of abandoned."
Mike Bennett, of Hackham West, agreed, saying the train line needed to be extended to Seaford.
"Bringing the line down to Seaford would greatly benefit the whole area," he said.
"It is so hard to get around at the moment and the train would solve a lot of those problems."
To applause he added: "Don't spend it on that little tram extension – use the money for the railway instead."
The forum, moderated by senior reporter Kevin Naughton at Noarlunga College Theatre, was the second in a highly successful series organised by the Sunday Mail.
Panel members were new MP for Mawson Leon Bignell, Opposition infrastructure spokesman Martin Hamilton-Smith, Federal Liberal MP for Kingston Kym Richardson, police Local Service Area Commander for the South Coast Superintendent Michael Cornish, Christies Beach High School principal Paul Wilson, and City of Onkaparinga deputy mayor Trevor Fletcher.
Mr Bignell defended the Government's plan to extend the tramline by 1km along King William St at a cost of $21 million.
"This tram isn't just for the city, it's for the residents in Glenelg, Adelaide, North Adelaide and surrounding suburbs," he said, over calls of anger from the crowd.
"The tram isn't our only focus; we are doing feasibility studies to determine if we can continue a train line further down south."
After the forum, Mr Hamilton-Smith said he would pressure the Government into spending the allocated tram money elsewhere.
"The opinion of the people was fairly obvious – they want better infrastructure," he said.
"Transport services, like trains and buses, is one of those infrastructure issues I will be questioning the Government about."
Youth crime – in particular graffiti – also featured prominently at the forum, with some residents calling for harsher penalties.
"We should give those caught a no-tolerance policy," 53-year-old Huntfield Heights resident Derek Mikolaj said. "If they get caught graffitiing they should get six months straight out.
"Being tough on the hoon drivers by taking their cars away has worked, so we should do the same for the vandals.
"We only have to make an example out of a few and the rest will get the message and stop."
Mr Bignell and Mr Richardson, a former police officer, agreed with Mr Mikolaj, saying the penalties should be tougher.
"Maybe it is time for the laws to be made stronger in order to punish those offenders who are caught, because we need to start winning the war," Mr Richardson said.
While unable to discuss penalties, Supt Cornish said police were doing a good job in combating vandalism.
"We are working very well with the council to prevent graffiti vandalism and we are making breakthroughs," he said.
"But we need the community's support to help us fight crime. We need them to report incidents."
Mr Wilson said harsher penalties for youths would only be a Band-Aid solution.
"Throwing them in jail will not solve anything. We should actually be supporting them instead," he said.
Other matters raised included health services, job opportunities and services in new developments.
I am really pissed off with the amount of criticism the tram extension is getting.
The people that criticise it lack vision.
Can't they see that in the future petrol may cost $10 a litre? Only the rich will be able to afford to drive cars, the rest will have to rely on public transport.
The state government needs to focus on public transport.
And another thing, the people that attack the tram extension are forgetting that this first stage is actually part of a wider plan to extend the tram extension to North Adelaide, Port Adelaide and possible to other places.
The people that criticise it lack vision.
Can't they see that in the future petrol may cost $10 a litre? Only the rich will be able to afford to drive cars, the rest will have to rely on public transport.
The state government needs to focus on public transport.
And another thing, the people that attack the tram extension are forgetting that this first stage is actually part of a wider plan to extend the tram extension to North Adelaide, Port Adelaide and possible to other places.
I think they just want the public transport down south improved before the tram extension. Since Adelaide is expanding so rapidly North and South, I can understand that more funds are needed to keep trains and buses running to those areas. Whilst I reckon that the tram is great and support the extension, I also think our railway network is pretty shit. I'd be equally supportive of any money put to those objectives.
When it cost $10 a litre, I'm hitchhiking cause I won't be able to afford public transport.
When it cost $10 a litre, I'm hitchhiking cause I won't be able to afford public transport.
Labor blocks inquiry as road costs blowout
By KARA PHILLIPS
01jun06
THE State Government has blocked an inquiry into the alleged downscaling of the Marion interchange project as the Opposition continues to claim major road project blowouts have reached an extraordinary $800 million.
Transport Minister Patrick Conlon was the main target during a heated Question Time in Parliament yesterday, with Opposition Leader Iain Evans vowing Budget bungles would be unveiled in coming weeks.
Mr Evans said senior transport sources, still employed by the department, had told the Opposition that costs announced by Mr Conlon in April, 2005, for two South Rd projects - the underpasses at Anzac Highway and Port Rd - had climbed from $187 million to $400 million.
"A $600 million blowout (on Monday), a $200 million blowout (yesterday) and the interesting thing about it is the minister is not denying it," Mr Evans said.
"This is why the Government has delayed its Budget until September.
"The question now is will the Rann Government actually deliver on the South Rd for Adelaide's long-suffering motorists and when will Premier Rann appoint a Transport Minister who can deliver projects on time and on budget?"
Following Mr Conlon's stunning speech in Parliament on Tuesday that the costs for the Bakewell Bridge replacement, Northern Expressway and South Rd projects had risen, Mr Evans said it was impossible to believe Mr Conlon was not aware until recently that things had gone so wrong.
The Opposition transport spokesman Martin Hamilton-Smith said yesterday that the Marion interchange project looked like being "scaled back to a far more minor project" and he was frustrated the State Government had "used its numbers in Parliament's Public Work Committee" to vote down the motion for an inquiry.
Mr Conlon said these major infrastructure projects had always been put in the "too hard" basket by the former Liberal government.
By KARA PHILLIPS
01jun06
THE State Government has blocked an inquiry into the alleged downscaling of the Marion interchange project as the Opposition continues to claim major road project blowouts have reached an extraordinary $800 million.
Transport Minister Patrick Conlon was the main target during a heated Question Time in Parliament yesterday, with Opposition Leader Iain Evans vowing Budget bungles would be unveiled in coming weeks.
Mr Evans said senior transport sources, still employed by the department, had told the Opposition that costs announced by Mr Conlon in April, 2005, for two South Rd projects - the underpasses at Anzac Highway and Port Rd - had climbed from $187 million to $400 million.
"A $600 million blowout (on Monday), a $200 million blowout (yesterday) and the interesting thing about it is the minister is not denying it," Mr Evans said.
"This is why the Government has delayed its Budget until September.
"The question now is will the Rann Government actually deliver on the South Rd for Adelaide's long-suffering motorists and when will Premier Rann appoint a Transport Minister who can deliver projects on time and on budget?"
Following Mr Conlon's stunning speech in Parliament on Tuesday that the costs for the Bakewell Bridge replacement, Northern Expressway and South Rd projects had risen, Mr Evans said it was impossible to believe Mr Conlon was not aware until recently that things had gone so wrong.
The Opposition transport spokesman Martin Hamilton-Smith said yesterday that the Marion interchange project looked like being "scaled back to a far more minor project" and he was frustrated the State Government had "used its numbers in Parliament's Public Work Committee" to vote down the motion for an inquiry.
Mr Conlon said these major infrastructure projects had always been put in the "too hard" basket by the former Liberal government.
$35m housing project derailed
04jun06
A $35 MILLION Housing Trust project has been thwarted to make way for a railway corridor that may never be used.
The project was shelved in January after Transport Department officials changed the boundaries of the yet-to-be-approved Seaford Rail Extension.
The about-face surprised Trust staff who had been told the rail extension was "not envisaged for 20 to 30 years".
The latest Transport Department controversy involving project delays and cost blowouts is revealed in emails, ministerial memos and notes obtained by the Sunday Mail.
It comes on top of last week's postponement of several major transport infrastructure projects.
The Goldsmith Drive Land Development Proposal, next to Noarlunga Centre, was approved in October, 2005, but shelved by Housing Minister Jay Weatherill on January 6, 2006.
At the time, there were 3600 southern suburbs residents on the Housing Trust waiting list.
The 230-house project was due to start next month.
As a joint venture with a private developer, it was expected to generate a profit to the Housing Trust of $5.6 million, according to a memo dated May 23, 2006, from Housing Trust Development Manager Michael Kourakis.
The memo states "the project cannot proceed until the Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure resolves the issue of the boundary alignment", a reference to the proposed Seaford Rail Extension.
An internal email between Housing Trust officials, dated May 24, 2006, shows there were late changes to the Transport Department's rail project timeline. The email reveals:
CONSULTATION undertaken before Cabinet approval indicated the extension was not envisaged for another 20 to 30 years.
TRANSPORT officials contacted the Housing Trust in late October to advise that the timeline for the rail extension had been brought forward and they would require additional Trust land.
THE Trust could be open to damages claims from a joint venture partner if changes were made to boundaries after the project agreement was finalised.
"These revelations show another contradiction between what Transport officials believed and what the Government Strategic Infrastructure Plan was promising," said Opposition Transport spokesman Martin Hamilton-Smith.
Transport Minister Pat Conlon said yesterday he was surprised the Housing Trust did not know the rail extension was a possibility.
"It was my understanding that all parties were aware," Mr Conlon said.
Housing Trust general manager Malcolm Downie said the housing project was being "adjusted so it doesn't preclude the proposed future extension of the rail corridor".
"If there was confusion about the timelines for the rail extension, it's because the Government prioritised the project last year as part of the infrastructure plan," he said.
04jun06
A $35 MILLION Housing Trust project has been thwarted to make way for a railway corridor that may never be used.
The project was shelved in January after Transport Department officials changed the boundaries of the yet-to-be-approved Seaford Rail Extension.
The about-face surprised Trust staff who had been told the rail extension was "not envisaged for 20 to 30 years".
The latest Transport Department controversy involving project delays and cost blowouts is revealed in emails, ministerial memos and notes obtained by the Sunday Mail.
It comes on top of last week's postponement of several major transport infrastructure projects.
The Goldsmith Drive Land Development Proposal, next to Noarlunga Centre, was approved in October, 2005, but shelved by Housing Minister Jay Weatherill on January 6, 2006.
At the time, there were 3600 southern suburbs residents on the Housing Trust waiting list.
The 230-house project was due to start next month.
As a joint venture with a private developer, it was expected to generate a profit to the Housing Trust of $5.6 million, according to a memo dated May 23, 2006, from Housing Trust Development Manager Michael Kourakis.
The memo states "the project cannot proceed until the Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure resolves the issue of the boundary alignment", a reference to the proposed Seaford Rail Extension.
An internal email between Housing Trust officials, dated May 24, 2006, shows there were late changes to the Transport Department's rail project timeline. The email reveals:
CONSULTATION undertaken before Cabinet approval indicated the extension was not envisaged for another 20 to 30 years.
TRANSPORT officials contacted the Housing Trust in late October to advise that the timeline for the rail extension had been brought forward and they would require additional Trust land.
THE Trust could be open to damages claims from a joint venture partner if changes were made to boundaries after the project agreement was finalised.
"These revelations show another contradiction between what Transport officials believed and what the Government Strategic Infrastructure Plan was promising," said Opposition Transport spokesman Martin Hamilton-Smith.
Transport Minister Pat Conlon said yesterday he was surprised the Housing Trust did not know the rail extension was a possibility.
"It was my understanding that all parties were aware," Mr Conlon said.
Housing Trust general manager Malcolm Downie said the housing project was being "adjusted so it doesn't preclude the proposed future extension of the rail corridor".
"If there was confusion about the timelines for the rail extension, it's because the Government prioritised the project last year as part of the infrastructure plan," he said.
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