(27/07/10) - Image Sourced From Bombardier

It's been confirmed this morning that Moreton Bay Regional Council ratepayers are going to have to find over 100 million dollars for the proposed Redcliffe rail link.

Prime Minister, Julia Gillard is expected to announce today that the rail link from Petrie to Kippa Ring will cost 1.15 billion dollars of which Canberra is prepared to contribute 700 million. The state government, in a statement a short while ago said it would commit its share of $300 million into the project, leaving council to find $105 million.

So far there's been no comment from Council as to how it intends to find the necessary funds.

In announcing funding for the project 3 weeks ago, the local member for Longman, Jon Sullivan, said he did not believe ratepayers would be expected to pay for the project at all because it was state rail infrastructure, but this has since been rejected by Council.

The Courier Mail this morning says Julia Gillard will today pledge to deliver the rail line by 2016 with work starting in two years.

It says the announcement is aimed at boosting the stocks of labour candidates in key marginal electorates north of Brisbane including Longman and Dickson.

A statement from transport minister Rachel Nolan this morning a short while ago said six new stations would be built on the line, at Kallangur, Murrumba Downs, Mango Hill, Kinsella Road, Rothwell and Kippa Ring.

The Minister said all three levels of government had now agreed to jointly fund the rail link which meant it was now a reality.

She said the state government was also investing over one billion dollars in new trains to service the new line and other rail lines and would invest $165 million on building a third track between Lawnton and Petrie.