News & Discussion: Public Transport Contracts, Service & Policy

[Brucetiki]

Marshall about to announce who the new transport minister is.

Whoever it is will be a massive improvement on Knoll

[Brucetiki]

Take that back - Corey Windbag is the new Transport Minister

[ChillyPhilly]

Really? Terrible choice. Wingard would make sense for Minister for Sport, but I don't get the logic here.

Then again, as this scandal has proved, hiring a Corrections employee from the Barossa (Knoll) had no logic to it either.

[TorrensSA]

Oh Fuck Corey Wingard, he's my member of parliament and we can't even get traffic lights at Brighton Central, theres accidents there every week or so and near misses daily, a motorcyclist was almost killed a few weeks ago. Fuck Corey he's almost as useless as Nicolle Flint. There's even a petition in Brighton Central for traffic lights. It's seriously poor planing building a Hungry Jacks and expanding the shopping centre without relocating the pedestrian lights to Edwards Street and making them proper traffic lights. I'm amazed some Karen in her "Brighton tractor" hasn't run over a pedestrian crossing at the pedestrian lights turning left out of the shops, they've put in red arrows when the pedestrians lights are activated, but they're easy to miss. Brighton Road is one seriously busy road. Corey your job is represent the voters of Gibson, you are doing an incredibly bad job at that atm, he probably even takes credit for Oaklands, I'm pretty sure the City of Marion pushed hard for that one, I might give him some credit for Hove crossing when it's done, but seriously how hard.
are traffic lights Corey!. Maybe something is happening, anyone got a subscription? https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/subscrib ... de=premium

[[Shuz]]

What background or knowledge does Corey have in transport systems and planning?

Absolutely zero.

[NTRabbit]

What background or knowledge does Corey have in transport systems and planning?

Absolutely zero.

A minister shouldn't need to, instead relying on the expertise and advice of senior apolitical public servants within their portfolio to inform their decision making.

Out here in the real world though

[Waewick]

What background or knowledge does Corey have in transport systems and planning?

Absolutely zero.

A minister shouldn't need to, instead relying on the expertise and advice of senior apolitical public servants within their portfolio to inform their decision making.

Out here in the real world though

Exactly, we had had Kevin Foley as treasurer for a decade. The guy didn't finish High School and no one blinked an eye lid.

Sent from my SM-A515F using Tapatalk

[rubberman]

What background or knowledge does Corey have in transport systems and planning?

Absolutely zero.

A minister shouldn't need to, instead relying on the expertise and advice of senior apolitical public servants within their portfolio to inform their decision making.

Out here in the real world though

The problem arises when you outsource everything. Who then has the expertise to advise and caution Ministers? Consultants?

Consultants will advise, but often without a lot of background. However, they are most unlikely to caution Ministers if they want to keep getting work.

They also have a vested interest in making sure projects go ahead...they get work from those too.

So, you end up with Ministers getting possibly compromised advice.

This is true of both parties I hasten to add. (See my comments on tram projects under Labor).

[NTRabbit]

What background or knowledge does Corey have in transport systems and planning?

Absolutely zero.

A minister shouldn't need to, instead relying on the expertise and advice of senior apolitical public servants within their portfolio to inform their decision making.

Out here in the real world though

The problem arises when you outsource everything. Who then has the expertise to advise and caution Ministers? Consultants?

Consultants will advise, but often without a lot of background. However, they are most unlikely to caution Ministers if they want to keep getting work.

They also have a vested interest in making sure projects go ahead...they get work from those too.

So, you end up with Ministers getting possibly compromised advice.

This is true of both parties I hasten to add. (See my comments on tram projects under Labor).

Also when public servants are replaced with recently graduated student party hacks with nothing but ideology and earning preselection on their minds

[PeFe]

ABC article discussing the LIbs history with the public transport issues whilst in government.

New Transport Minister Corey Wingard has big job ahead to shift gears on troubled portfolio


Corey Wingard will have his work cut out to get the portfolio back on track.(ABC News: Tom Fedorowytsch)

Corey Wingard made his first public announcement on Friday as South Australia's Infrastructure and Transport Minister, a troubled portfolio he inherited after Stephan Knoll abruptly resigned in the wake of the parliamentary expenses scandal.

It was a sod-turning moment, of sorts, as Mr Wingard announced the start of work on additional lanes for the South-Eastern Freeway between Stirling and Crafers — part of $12.9 billion in projects to take place on his watch.

With the Government last month forced into an embarrassing backdown over Mr Knoll's failed bus route reform proposal, it will be how Mr Wingard gets the wheels turning on public transport again that will make or break his tenure.

r Knoll appeared to have ambitious plans for Adelaide's public transport network after his party won government in 2018.

The network had been lifted from the doldrums by the previous government with long-overdue investments in light rail, the O-Bahn and railway electrification/extension.

Mr Knoll spoke with enthusiasm, discussing overseas networks and new technologies and wanted to bring some of those approaches to Adelaide.

"The good thing about Stephan Knoll is he had a lot of big ideas and he wanted to have a global perspective," People for Public Transport president Josephine Buckhorn said.


Stephan Knoll came to the portfolio with enthusiasm.(ABC Radio Adelaide: Malcolm Sutton)

Bus routes rattled
Trouble began when the Government announced a rationalisation of lesser-patronised bus routes in Adelaide's north in its first budget, which would save $15 million and, according to unions, result in the reduction of 1,170 bus routes.

That was followed by a retreat from the pre-election commitment to complete a right-hand turn for the tram line from King William Road onto North Terrace, despite $37 million being set aside in the budget.

Mr Knoll had learnt what Labor likely already knew — overcoming the intersection's gradient would require the purchase of new trams or involve closing Adelaide's busiest intersection for many months.


Passengers wanting to travel east on North Terrace from King William Road must catch a second tram.(ABC News: Malcolm Sutton)

In May 2019, Mr Knoll announced the planned cessation of bus contracts as part of the Government's pre-announced budget savings, while inviting proposals to trial an Uber-style bus-on-demand feeder service in low-patronage areas.

Slammed by the union, the idea was cautiously welcomed by public transport advocates provided it did not replace fixed routes.

But later that month Mr Knoll upset passengers by scrapping Adelaide's two-section fares, which enabled users travelling short distances a fare reduction of up to $2 for a single trip.

He argued it was in response to fare evaders, but it was the people paying for public transport who were stung.

"Using buses in particular at the moment is quite difficult," Ms Buckhorn later said.

"The fare increases have also made it difficult for some people and caused a loss in popularity."


Josephine Buckhorn received a lot of complaints about increased fares.(ABC Radio Adelaide: Malcolm Sutton)

Port left high and dry
In June 2019, Mr Knoll upset even more people when his department put on hold the Port Railway Dock Line and Station project.

The project would have laid a one-kilometre railway spur into the heart of Port Adelaide, complete with a bus interchange — the first significant public transport investment the Port had seen in years.

Work had begun after months of public consultation, and several businesses, including beer company Pirate Life, had relocated to Port Adelaide in advance.


The Port Adelaide station was to be built almost three decades after the old dock station was demolished.(Supplied: SA Government)

Mr Knoll argued new information revealed the project was going to cost $40 million instead of the $16.4 million allocated and further assessment was required.

Little has been said about the project since, nor about tram investment despite the Government promising before the election to investigate a city tram loop and an extension to North Adelaide.

Privatisation 'agenda'
The North Adelaide extension was ruled out in the 2019-20 budget, but Mr Knoll told the ABC in June that he would have "more to say" about a business case into the tram loop "in a couple of weeks".

Instead, the Government in July revealed controversial plans to privatise the operations of its tram and passenger railway network, with Mr Knoll citing Melbourne and London's networks as examples.

This was despite the London Tube returning to public hands in 2010 and Premier Steven Marshall saying ahead of the 2018 election that his party did "not have a privatisation agenda".

Eager to get things back on track, in November last year Mr Knoll announced Mount Barker and the Barossa would be the first to receive a bus-on-demand service with a $1.7 million grant to public transport provider Keolis Downer.

He also said work was continuing on the Gawler passenger railway line electrification and the extension of the Tonsley train line to Flinders University, along with Park N Rides for the O-Bahn.

Bus reform disaster
But in June, Mr Knoll put out for consultation a disastrous bus route reform package that provoked the ire of people across the city, as well as members of his own party.

It would have cut 500 bus stops and restricted another 400 to school buses only, effectively cutting 900 stops from general use.

The backlash was so widespread that the Government dumped the plan just two weeks later.


The Government abandoned its bus route reform after just two weeks.(ABC News)
Ms Buckhorn said it was an example of Mr Knoll's unwillingness to listen to stakeholders at the start of a project.

"If they'd done the consultation at the beginning, they may have saved themselves some money that could have been better spent on plenty of other things," she said.

"It shows poor judgment or poor knowledge of what the sector is actually supposed to be doing."

Early consultation the key
With high hopes for Mr Wingard to get the sector back on track, Ms Buckhorn said her key message was to consult earlier and communicate with those who used and relied on public transport.

"It's not even just to be better at it, but to actually do the consultation and not just say you're going to do it," she said.


Works are continuing for Park N Rides along the O-Bahn.(ABC News: Malcolm Sutton)
The Government has no appetite to continue any reform of bus routes, but Mr Wingard did not answer questions about whether the Port Dock Railway and Station project, or the city loop tram, were still on the agenda.

He did, however, say he was willing to listen to community members who used public transport.

"Public consultation and delivering better transport services to the South Australian community will be at the forefront of all decisions," Mr Wingard said.

Time will tell.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-01/ ... o/12504346

[PeFe]

South Australian government questioned over use of interstate based transport consultants.
From In Daily

Not enough SA talent as Transport boss defends Sydney-based "million-dollar-club"

The State Government is spending millions of dollars on high-level Sydney-based contractors because “the local talent pool is not up the task”, the head of SA’s transport department has told parliament.


Tony Braxton-Smith addresses the committee today, while Fergus Gammie is seen on a screen from Sydney. Photo: Tony Lewis / InDaily

Appearing before parliament’s Budget and Finance Committee this morning, the CE of the newly-reconfigured Infrastructure and Transport Department defended the appointments of what the Opposition described as a “million-dollar-club” of senior contractors, who have all been working remotely from Sydney amid coronavirus border restrictions.

Tony Braxton-Smith conceded three “single-source” appointments had all previously worked at Transport NSW at the same time as him, and had subsequently been contracted to the SA department since his arrival.

One of them, Peter Andrews, was contracted as director of the bus services procurement project for $1.08 million, while NZ Transport Agency chief Fergus Gammie is being paid $1.47 million to direct the state’s rail privatisation project.

Both are primarily based in Sydney, along with another recent appointment, State Planning Reform Director Ray Partridge, whose agency has since shifted out of the Transport Department as part of a restructure after the resignation of former minister Stephan Knoll.



Braxton-Smith defended the hand-picked appointments, saying all three were “highly-skilled individuals providing their skills and experiences for work where there was no-one in the state with the required skills and experience”.

But he was quizzed by Opposition frontbencher Kyam Maher who noted that “all these people who work from Sydney also have the added benefit of working with you, Mr Braxton-Smith, in the past”, asking: “Do you think it’s a good look?”

“I think the state expects us to find the right people to do the job, and do the job well,” Braxton-Smith responded.

“There was no-one found in a market-based process locally that has the skills and experience where the form of the contract is highly specialised… likewise in development and delivery of software, the local talent pool was not up to the task.

“We had to find someone at short notice who had experience with complex program delivery, complex software development as well as reform.”

He said while he had worked with Partridge in the past, that appointment was made by Planning executive director Sally Smith as a “direct appointment in accordance with the provisions of the SA Public Service Act”.

Asked why “we so rarely see [any of the appointees] in Adelaide”, Braxton-Smith said that was because of “restrictions on travel associated with COVID”.

“We have a remote working arrangement, and we also have a COVID-safe plan,” he said.


Gammie faces the committee from Sydney. Photo: Tony Lewis / InDaily

Maher cited now-Treasurer Rob Lucas, who in 2016 was critical of the former Labor Government for allowing then-CE of the Premier’s department Don Russell to commute to SA from his Sydney home.

“Having someone who flees… to go back home each weekend just isn’t good enough,” Lucas told The Advertiser at the time.

“We want someone in that key role who champions the state and understands its issues… we need someone who lives the state’s problems.”

Lucas told InDaily today: “I always stand by whatever I said at the time [but] I won’t enter into any further comment about current arrangements.”

“I’m not going to generalise – the comments I would have made certainly would have applied to the most senior public servant, the CE of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, but I won’t generalise anywhere beyond the most senior public servant in the state…

“I’m sure whatever I said at the time was applicable to the most senior person.”

https://indaily.com.au/news/2020/08/25/ ... EAD%20MORE

[Eurostar]

Oh Fuck Corey Wingard, he's my member of parliament and we can't even get traffic lights at Brighton Central, theres accidents there every week or so and near misses daily, a motorcyclist was almost killed a few weeks ago. Fuck Corey he's almost as useless as Nicolle Flint. There's even a petition in Brighton Central for traffic lights. It's seriously poor planing building a Hungry Jacks and expanding the shopping centre without relocating the pedestrian lights to Edwards Street and making them proper traffic lights. I'm amazed some Karen in her "Brighton tractor" hasn't run over a pedestrian crossing at the pedestrian lights turning left out of the shops, they've put in red arrows when the pedestrians lights are activated, but they're easy to miss. Brighton Road is one seriously busy road. Corey your job is represent the voters of Gibson, you are doing an incredibly bad job at that atm, he probably even takes credit for Oaklands, I'm pretty sure the City of Marion pushed hard for that one, I might give him some credit for Hove crossing when it's done, but seriously how hard.
are traffic lights Corey!. Maybe something is happening, anyone got a subscription? https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/subscrib ... de=premium

As well as that I think something needs to be done about the Brighton Road/Oaklands Road/Whyte Street intersection too

[adelaide transport]

Oh Fuck Corey Wingard, he's my member of parliament and we can't even get traffic lights at Brighton Central, theres accidents there every week or so and near misses daily, a motorcyclist was almost killed a few weeks ago. Fuck Corey he's almost as useless as Nicolle Flint. There's even a petition in Brighton Central for traffic lights. It's seriously poor planing building a Hungry Jacks and expanding the shopping centre without relocating the pedestrian lights to Edwards Street and making them proper traffic lights. I'm amazed some Karen in her "Brighton tractor" hasn't run over a pedestrian crossing at the pedestrian lights turning left out of the shops, they've put in red arrows when the pedestrians lights are activated, but they're easy to miss. Brighton Road is one seriously busy road. Corey your job is represent the voters of Gibson, you are doing an incredibly bad job at that atm, he probably even takes credit for Oaklands, I'm pretty sure the City of Marion pushed hard for that one, I might give him some credit for Hove crossing when it's done, but seriously how hard.
are traffic lights Corey!. Maybe something is happening, anyone got a subscription? https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/subscrib ... de=premium

As well as that I think something needs to be done about the Brighton Road/Oaklands Road/Whyte Street intersection too

The final decision is the Departments(DTI),not the Ministers.
If you are not happy write to the Department-being abusive to the Minister will not achieve anything. Yes its a busy area. I use it frequently,but its not the worst one. A lot of the problem is impatient motorists.

[OlympusAnt]

It's rather ironic that interstate people were employed. This is the classic job market situation. I'm sure people applied that were from here and could easily do the work, but they just went for their mates.

[SBD]

It's rather ironic that interstate people were employed. This is the classic job market situation. I'm sure people applied that were from here and could easily do the work, but they just went for their mates.

We also have people on this forum who argue that the government should hire experts in public transport from interstate or overseas, because they believe the DPTI/DTI is incompetent, and the consultant's expertise might rub off. We can't have it both ways.