SUNDAY JULY 19 2020 COURIERMAIL.COM.AU INSIDE BRISSIE’S · new train management sys-tem and Mayne...
2
30 NEWS SUNDAY JULY 19 2020 COURIERMAIL.COM.AU BCME01Z01MA - V1 INSIDE BRISSIE’S TUNNELLING for Queens- land’s biggest infrastructure project has kicked off in earn- est, with the first 59m of rock bored out last week to access what will become Brisbane’s 5.9km Cross River Rail under- ground. While the engineering feats involved in the $5.4bn underground rail system that will unchoke Brisbane’s public transport are staggering, in the age of COVID, the secure jobs attached to it are equally as impressive. The project is injecting $4.1m per day into the economy, or $125m per month, with 97 per cent of workers on the project living in Queensland. Cross River Rail Minister Kate Jones said that translat- ed into 2400 workers on the project now, growing to a peak of 3000 in the next year to 18 months. More than 7700 people will work on Cross River Rail over the five years of construction, with 400 local suppliers signed up and more than 160 apprentice and traineeship positions filled of 450 to be created. The Sunday Mail, in con- junction with the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority (CRRDA), is presenting a se- ries looking at the project and what it will bring to the state. Cross River Rail is a 10.2km rail line from Dutton Park to Bowen Hills, which includes 5.9km of twin tunnels under the Brisbane River and Bris- bane CBD. Work has begun on the project’s four new under- ground stations at Boggo Road, Woolloongabba, Albert Street and Roma Street. By introducing another river crossing, Brisbane’s rail network can have more trains more often while the under- ground means less of the CBD is given over to rail tracks, and stations can sit in the city cen- tre. Its backers say a better public transport system will remove thousands of cars from roads. “We all know that COVID-19 is going to have a significant hit on our econ- omy, whether it’s here in Queensland, Brisbane, Aus- tralia or globally,” Ms Jones said. “But one of the great things is the fact we have been able to plough on with some of these major infrastructure projects.” Ms Jones said the $3.6bn Queen’s Wharf hotels, retail and casino combined with the $5.4bn for Cross River Rail meant billions were being poured into reshaping Brisbane and attracting new business to Queensland. “That’s infrastructure that continues to be built that will fast-track Brisbane’s econ- omic recovery,” she said. “It puts Brisbane in a real- ly good position for what economists are saying will take years to get the econ- omy back to pre-COVID-19 size and activity. When you look at the major construc- tion sites whether it’s Wool- loongabba, Boggo Road or Roma Street, they are old, ugly eyesores coming down before your eyes and the biggest excavation projects ever undertaken in Bris- bane are under way. “It will ultimately free up hectares of prime real estate for redevelopment at the heart of the city. “There’s no other city, modern city, that has hec- tares in its heart to be redevel- oped for the best use for the next chapter in our city’s story.” Tunnelling construction will be completed by 2024, after which a detailed com- missioning and testing pro- gram will begin. Delivery authority tunnels, stations and development project director Jeremy Kru- ger said the benefits of jobs on the underground would flow through the Queensland economy. “It’s an amazing oppor- tunity for southeast Queens- land to have a major project in its backyard,” Mr Kruger said. “Having all those direct employees on the project is great for those employees and those families, but the benefits go broader as well because you’ve got a supply chain that feeds into the project, you’ve got businesses around the pro- ject, whether they be hotels, restaurants. “You get a real flow-on ef- fect of having all those people employed on the project. Those families have jobs and that flows on into the com- munity. “And the project is going to roll on for at least four years, so there’s jobs there for a large, large number of people for an extended duration.” The size and length of the project means apprentices and trainees could start their new jobs on Cross River Rail and get their trade by the time it finishes. “You can bring peo- ple in early on in their career, like apprentices, and by the end of the job they can be fully qualified tradespeople,” Mr Kruger said. While the boring machines have begun work at Roma Street and travelled 59m so far, explosive tests will be con- ducted at Woolloongabba and Albert Street this month. Blasting will be done be- tween 7.30am and 4.30pm weekdays or Saturdays. Underground tunnel brings timely boost to Queensland’s economy DAN KNOWLES FUTURE SEQ EDITOR 30 Flags “must accord with the military imperatives of good order and discipline, treating all our people with dignity and respect, and rejecting divisive symbols”. Permitted flags include the US and state flags, military units, US allies and a flag com- memorating prisoners of war. Confederate iconography has become a national issue since the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May and the protests that followed. During the American Civil War in 1861-65, Confederate states fought the North to pro- tect a society which included the right to have slaves. Confederacy suffers a new defeat in flag ban THE Pentagon has banned displays of the Confederate flag at military bases. In a memo, Defence Sec- retary Mark Esper listed the types of flags that may be dis- played at military installations. The Confederate flag was not among them. The decision to bar the flag by omission was reportedly a deliberate ploy to avoid anger- ing President Donald Trump, who has defended Americans’ right to display it. “We must always remain focused on what unifies us, our sworn oath to the Constitution and our shared duty to defend the nation,” Mr Esper wrote. Scooby-Doo’s Velma was written as ‘explicitly gay’ THE writer of the 2002 film Scooby-Doo tried to make one of its main characters gay, and believes he would have got away with it if not for the meddling studio. James Gunn, who became one of Hollywood’s most in-demand filmmakers after directing and writing the Guardians of the Galaxy hits, has revealed how Warner Bros thwarted his at- tempt to break down barriers. A fan requested that Mr Gunn, who wrote Scooby-Doo and its 2004 sequel, “make our live-action lesbian Velma dreams come true” in future, referring to the bespectacled member of the human heroes, alongside the eponymous hound. Gunn, 53, replied “I tried! In 2001 Velma was explicitly gay in my initial script. But the studio kept watering it down, becoming am- biguous (the version shot), then nothing (the released ver- sion), and finally having a boy- friend (the sequel).” Looks like Kanye has set presidential run in stone JEFFERSON, Roosevelt, Lin- coln – and Yeezy. Potential presidential can- didate Kanye West on Satur- day photo-shopped his face on to Mount Rushmore – then tweeted the photo with the caption “2020”. The doctored pic shows the rap- per’s mug along- side President Abraham Lin- coln’s on the monument (inset). West, who is married to Kim Kardashian, announced his presidential bid in a July 4 tweet. “We must now realise the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vi- sion and building our future. “I am running for president of the United States,” the Chi- cago rapper tweeted. He appears on the presidential ballot in Okla- homa – after fil- ing the $35,000 fee this week – al- though questions are still swirling over whether he is ac- tually running or if it is all about publicity.
Transcript of SUNDAY JULY 19 2020 COURIERMAIL.COM.AU INSIDE BRISSIE’S · new train management sys-tem and Mayne...
30 NEWS SUNDAY JULY 19 2020 COURIERMAIL.COM.AU
BCME01Z01MA - V1
INSIDE BRISSIE’S TUNNELLING for Queens-land’s biggest infrastructureproject has kicked off in earn-est, with the first 59m of rockbored out last week to accesswhat will become Brisbane’s5.9km Cross River Rail under-ground.
While the engineeringfeats involved in the $5.4bnunderground rail system thatwill unchoke Brisbane’s publictransport are staggering, in
the age of COVID, the securejobs attached to it are equallyas impressive. The project isinjecting $4.1m per day intothe economy, or $125m permonth, with 97 per cent ofworkers on the project livingin Queensland.
Cross River Rail MinisterKate Jones said that translat-ed into 2400 workers on theproject now, growing to apeak of 3000 in the next yearto 18 months.
More than 7700 people willwork on Cross River Rail overthe five years of construction,with 400 local supplierssigned up and more than 160apprentice and traineeshippositions filled of 450 to becreated.
The Sunday Mail, in con-junction with the Cross RiverRail Delivery Authority(CRRDA), is presenting a se-ries looking at the project andwhat it will bring to the state.
Cross River Rail is a 10.2kmrail line from Dutton Park toBowen Hills, which includes5.9km of twin tunnels underthe Brisbane River and Bris-bane CBD.
Work has begun on theproject’s four new under-ground stations at BoggoRoad, Woolloongabba, AlbertStreet and Roma Street.
By introducing anotherriver crossing, Brisbane’s railnetwork can have more trainsmore often while the under-ground means less of the CBDis given over to rail tracks, andstations can sit in the city cen-tre. Its backers say a betterpublic transport system willremove thousands of carsfrom roads.
“We all know thatCOVID-19 is going to have asignificant hit on our econ-omy, whether it’s here inQueensland, Brisbane, Aus-
tralia or globally,” Ms Jonessaid. “But one of the greatthings is the fact we have beenable to plough on with someof these major infrastructureprojects.”
Ms Jones said the $3.6bnQueen’s Wharf hotels, retailand casino combined withthe $5.4bn for Cross RiverRail meant billions werebeing poured into reshapingBrisbane and attracting newbusiness to Queensland.
“That’s infrastructure thatcontinues to be built that willfast-track Brisbane’s econ-omic recovery,” she said.
“It puts Brisbane in a real-ly good position for whateconomists are saying willtake years to get the econ-omy back to pre-COVID-19size and activity. When youlook at the major construc-tion sites whether it’s Wool-loongabba, Boggo Road orRoma Street, they are old,ugly eyesores coming downbefore your eyes and thebiggest excavation projectsever undertaken in Bris-bane are under way.
“It will ultimately freeup hectares of prime realestate for redevelopmentat the heart of the city.
“There’s no other city,modern city, that has hec-tares in its heart to be redevel-oped for the best use for thenext chapter in our city’sstory.”
Tunnelling constructionwill be completed by 2024,after which a detailed com-missioning and testing pro-gram will begin.
Delivery authority tunnels,stations and developmentproject director Jeremy Kru-ger said the benefits of jobs onthe underground would flowthrough the Queenslandeconomy.
“It’s an amazing oppor-tunity for southeast Queens-land to have a major project inits backyard,” Mr Kruger said.
“Having all those directemployees on the project isgreat for those employees andthose families, but the benefitsgo broader as well becauseyou’ve got a supply chain thatfeeds into the project, you’vegot businesses around the pro-ject, whether they be hotels,restaurants.
“You get a real flow-on ef-
fect of having all those peopleemployed on the project.Those families have jobs andthat flows on into the com-munity.
“And the project is going toroll on for at least four years,so there’s jobs there for alarge, large number of peoplefor an extended duration.”
The size and length of theproject means apprentices andtrainees could start their newjobs on Cross River Rail andget their trade by the time it
finishes. “You can bring peo-ple in early on in their career,like apprentices, and by theend of the job they can be fullyqualified tradespeople,” MrKruger said.
While the boring machineshave begun work at RomaStreet and travelled 59m sofar, explosive tests will be con-ducted at Woolloongabba andAlbert Street this month.
Blasting will be done be-tween 7.30am and 4.30pmweekdays or Saturdays.
Underground tunnel brings timely boost to Queensland’s economyDAN KNOWLESFUTURE SEQ EDITOR
30
Flags “must accord with themilitary imperatives of goodorder and discipline, treatingall our people with dignity andrespect, and rejecting divisivesymbols”.
Permitted flags include theUS and state flags, militaryunits, US allies and a flag com-memorating prisoners of war.
Confederate iconographyhas become a national issuesince the killing of GeorgeFloyd in Minneapolis in Mayand the protests that followed.
During the American CivilWar in 1861-65, Confederatestates fought the North to pro-tect a society which includedthe right to have slaves.
Confederacy suffers a new defeat in flag banTHE Pentagon has banneddisplays of the Confederateflag at military bases.
In a memo, Defence Sec-retary Mark Esper listed thetypes of flags that may be dis-played at military installations.
The Confederate flag wasnot among them.
The decision to bar the flagby omission was reportedly adeliberate ploy to avoid anger-ing President Donald Trump,who has defended Americans’right to display it.
“We must always remainfocused on what unifies us, oursworn oath to the Constitutionand our shared duty to defendthe nation,” Mr Esper wrote.
Scooby-Doo’s Velma was written as ‘explicitly gay’THE writer of the 2002 filmScooby-Doo tried to make oneof its main characters gay, andbelieves he would have gotaway with it if not for themeddling studio.
James Gunn,who became oneof Hollywood’smost in-demandfilmmakers afterdirecting andwriting theGuardians of theGalaxy hits, hasrevealed howWarner Bros thwarted his at-tempt to break down barriers.
A fan requested that MrGunn, who wrote Scooby-Doo
and its 2004 sequel, “make ourlive-action lesbian Velmadreams come true” in future,referring to the bespectacled
member of thehuman heroes,alongside thee p o n y m o u shound. Gunn, 53,replied “I tried! In2001 Velma wasexplicitly gay inmy initial script.But the studiokept watering it
down, becoming am-biguous (the version shot),then nothing (the released ver-sion), and finally having a boy-friend (the sequel).”
Looks like Kanye has set presidential run in stoneJEFFERSON, Roosevelt, Lin-coln – and Yeezy.
Potential presidential can-didate Kanye West on Satur-day photo-shopped his faceon to MountRushmore –then tweeted thephoto with thecaption “2020”.
The doctoredpic shows the rap-per’s mug along-side PresidentAbraham Lin-coln’s on themonument (inset).
West, who is married toKim Kardashian, announcedhis presidential bid in a July 4
tweet. “We must now realisethe promise of America bytrusting God, unifying our vi-sion and building our future.
“I am runningfor president ofthe UnitedStates,” the Chi-cago rappertweeted.
He appears onthe presidentialballot in Okla-homa – after fil-ing the $35,000
fee this week – al-though questions are stillswirling over whether he is ac-tually running or if it is allabout publicity.
COURIERMAIL.COM.AU SUNDAY JULY 19 2020 NEWS 31
V1 - BCME01Z02MA
NEW JOBS: Annica Carberry with apprentices (from left) Lachlan Wilson, Brian Gethins and Ryan Sheppard. Picture: Josh Woning
MEGA PROJECTCROSS River Rail is a$5.4bn, 10.2km railway lineand tunnel under the Bris-bane River.
It will run from DuttonPark to Bowen Hills and in-clude 5.9km of twin tunnelsunder the river and BrisbaneCBD.
The project includes fournew underground stations atBoggo Road, Woolloongab-ba, Albert Street and RomaStreet.
Salisbury, Rocklea, Moor-ooka, Yeerongpilly, Yeronga,Fairfield and Dutton Parkabove-ground stations willbe upgraded and Exhibitionwill become a year-roundstation.
Three new stations on theGold Coast line will be de-livered as part of the CrossRiver Rail project at Pim-pama, Helensvale North/Hope Island and Merrimac.
The tunnel will unclog thebottleneck of the Merivalerail bridge, which currently isthe only rail crossing run-ning through the city centre.
With that cleared, moretrains can run more oftenfrom all lines across the net-work.
Cross River Rail is expect-ed to generate thousands ofjobs during its construction,with worksites from BoggoRoad across the inner city toRoma Street and Exhibition.
Two inner-city cornerblocks have been cleared inAlbert Street to make wayfor construction of the firsttrain station built in Bris-bane’s CBD in generations.
Work continues at thenew and refurbished stationsas well as Shorncliffe for thenew train management sys-tem and Mayne yard.
It will ultimately free
up hectares of prime
real estate Kate Jones
IT’S a pretty decent way to kick off a new career, working on Queensland’s biggest infrastructure project.
And if that new job looks like a paypacket through the biggest international crisis since World War II, so much the better.
Among the 450 apprentices signing on for Cross River Rail, apprentice linesmen Lachlan Wilson,
22, Ryan Sheppard, 34, and Brian Gethins, 35, could not be happier.
Mr Wilson said he had picked up the job at a time when a lot of his mates were being laid off or having their hours cut as COVID-19 bites.
Mr Sheppard and Mr Gethins are among the mature-aged apprentices.
After driving trucks and labouring,Mr Sheppard said an apprenticeship
offered the chance to get a trade and job security. Mr Gethins has gone from labouring on the rail lines to getting a trade and the skills that brings.
Training co-ordinator Annica Carberry said the Cross River trainees were all keen to get on with the job.
“To be an apprentice on Cross RiverRail and be a part of this project just sells itself for apprentices,” she said.
“It’s giving them an opportunity toget away from casual work or being a labourer to come into a specific role.”
Chris Buchanan, a 30-year construction industry veteran, said Cross River Rail offered plenty of work and hours. He had already taken delivery of the first spoil from the Roma St tunnel last week, which will be used at Mayne Yard at Bowen Hills.
Apprentices keen to learn and ready to get on with the job
TRANSFORMING ROMA STREAD IN TOMORROW’S COURIER MAIL 31
Upgrades and new stationsDAN KNOWLES
BRISBANE’S NEW UNDERGROUND
Authorised by the Queensland Government, Brisbane.
Advertisement
Construction is now underway.And while that means the whole of South-East Queensland can look forward to more trains, more often, it also means changes to roads and public transport services.
