QMCA is extremely disappointed at the news that Brisbane Metro is stopped in its tracks as Queensland Government calls for major design changes, months after designs have been completed and final bids submitted only last week.
QMCA CEO Jon Davies was dismayed at the announcement by Lord Mayor, Adrian Schrinner, at a Queensland Media Club event in Brisbane today, ‘At QMCA we feel Brisbane City Council’s pain, for Queensland Government to demand revisions to a project months after contractors, designers and engineers have submitted specifications and tenders to build Brisbane Metro is unacceptable. To tender for any project costs a contractor millions of dollars, with no guarantee of success and to now have to go back to the drawing board means that countless hours, resources and capital has been expended for zero return.”
Sadly this decision comes after a series on ongoing squabbles between Brisbane City Council and Queensland Government, with cooperation and consensus being seemingly unachievable on many aspects of the project.
“QMCA has consistently called for improved collaboration between all levels of government, to avoid situations where one level of government acts as a roadblock to development and the delivery of the infrastructure the public needs. With any project, there are always minor revisions to a design, but in this instance, the relocation of the proposed metro station at the Cultural Centre to underneath Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre is not a minor change; it is a significant redesign that will have been known about for months. For Queensland Government to have sat on this for so long is disappointing, to say the least. It will delay a flagship infrastructure project, increase costs to Brisbane ratepayers and undermine confidence in the infrastructure sector as a result of wasted effort and investment.“
“QMCA calls on Queensland Government to cease acting as a roadblock to Brisbane Metro and to enable its approval and construction so that an essential piece of infrastructure, which will work hand in hand with Cross River Rail, can be constructed quickly, efficiently and for maximum benefit to Brisbane’s rate payers,” said Mr Davies.
