Comments on: Sydney infrastructure edges closer to breaking point http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/07/23/sydney-infrastructure-edges-closer-to-breaking-point/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 09:16:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Rennie Ferguson http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/07/23/sydney-infrastructure-edges-closer-to-breaking-point/#comment-19216 Rennie Ferguson Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19216 Here we go again - NSW means Sydney - an airport 'hours' from Sydney...hogwash<br /><br />Yes up here in Newcastle we find it fanciful too, just another flight of fancy (pun sort of intended) and political distraction. <br /><br />But have a look:<br /><br />An international airport sharing runway and airspace with a major RAAF base - home of the FA/18 superhornet and JSF(..maybe) and by gosh land already owned by the Commonwealth..20mins to Australias 6th largest independent city (as opposed to a 'CBD' in urban sprawl)<br /><br />150Ha industrial area being rezoned around the current airport with capacity for defence/aerospace industries and other airfreight related business - a skilled workforce looking for further diversification of a growing regional economy.<br /><br />At its doorstep under-developed tourist markets one of the largest wine areas in Australia, World Heritage Areas, beautiful mid-north coast and beyond, Newcastle coastline, Port Stephens, a Sydney Harbour sized waterbody (sorry new Dam near World Heritage Forests)..sssshhhhhh - but you're a travel writer so you know this region.<br /><br />Department of Planning settlement strategy for the Lower Hunter aiming for an additional 150,000 population by 2020 - average house price $310K, Sydney bursting at the seams with median house $520K.<br /><br />...and all the focus on is the 'ridiculous' notion of a VFT and a few sandstone gullies and hills - the grand excuse of the grandfather centralists. My god modern rail infrastructure waisted on regional NSW. Despite promises of passenger and freight rail improvements for years (remember Transport 2010???) and a Newcastle-Sydney Flyer now 30mins slower than in 1930 (or something like that), a large port which puts out a few boats full of coal...for now.<br /><br />Please... Western Sydney - clubland, hoons, man made lakes, roads, traffic snarls..masterplanned estates, Hillsongers....and of course the motorway - a parking lot just waiting to be filled.<br /><br />Such a wonderful welcome to LBJ's land of the middle class.<br /><br />and all we see is a VFT which could only possibly be used to ferry travellers to Central Station - no room of course for commuters able to work on the train, wired remotely to the office, opening up the wonders of Sydney to the next most populous area. <br /><br />Ben I grew up and have hated the place for 30 of my 32 yrs - but havig returned i'm starting to take a shine to it. Newcastle and the Hunter has a lot to offer in its own right and has always had to create its own opportunities - there are far more potential users of a VFT than an international airport but if thats what it takes, well a few more cashed up tourists to deposit in this part of the world wouldn't hurt - we'll be happy to raid some of the Future Fund. <br /><br />But your right - no votes to win here.<br /><br />Rennie<br /><br /><br /> Here we go again - NSW means Sydney - an airport ‘hours’ from Sydney…hogwash

Yes up here in Newcastle we find it fanciful too, just another flight of fancy (pun sort of intended) and political distraction.

But have a look:

An international airport sharing runway and airspace with a major RAAF base - home of the FA/18 superhornet and JSF(..maybe) and by gosh land already owned by the Commonwealth..20mins to Australias 6th largest independent city (as opposed to a ‘CBD’ in urban sprawl)

150Ha industrial area being rezoned around the current airport with capacity for defence/aerospace industries and other airfreight related business - a skilled workforce looking for further diversification of a growing regional economy.

At its doorstep under-developed tourist markets one of the largest wine areas in Australia, World Heritage Areas, beautiful mid-north coast and beyond, Newcastle coastline, Port Stephens, a Sydney Harbour sized waterbody (sorry new Dam near World Heritage Forests)..sssshhhhhh - but you’re a travel writer so you know this region.

Department of Planning settlement strategy for the Lower Hunter aiming for an additional 150,000 population by 2020 - average house price $310K, Sydney bursting at the seams with median house $520K.

…and all the focus on is the ‘ridiculous’ notion of a VFT and a few sandstone gullies and hills - the grand excuse of the grandfather centralists. My god modern rail infrastructure waisted on regional NSW. Despite promises of passenger and freight rail improvements for years (remember Transport 2010???) and a Newcastle-Sydney Flyer now 30mins slower than in 1930 (or something like that), a large port which puts out a few boats full of coal…for now.

Please… Western Sydney - clubland, hoons, man made lakes, roads, traffic snarls..masterplanned estates, Hillsongers….and of course the motorway - a parking lot just waiting to be filled.

Such a wonderful welcome to LBJ’s land of the middle class.

and all we see is a VFT which could only possibly be used to ferry travellers to Central Station - no room of course for commuters able to work on the train, wired remotely to the office, opening up the wonders of Sydney to the next most populous area.

Ben I grew up and have hated the place for 30 of my 32 yrs - but havig returned i’m starting to take a shine to it. Newcastle and the Hunter has a lot to offer in its own right and has always had to create its own opportunities - there are far more potential users of a VFT than an international airport but if thats what it takes, well a few more cashed up tourists to deposit in this part of the world wouldn’t hurt - we’ll be happy to raid some of the Future Fund.

But your right - no votes to win here.

Rennie

]]> By: Ben@crikey http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/07/23/sydney-infrastructure-edges-closer-to-breaking-point/#comment-19217 Ben@crikey Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-19217 Rennie, I've loved the Hunter since my Dad used to take me up there overnight when he was on the colliers in the 50s. Sometimes treated to the Newcastle Flyer on the way back. Based on the growth and attractions of the greater Hunter the shared use of Williamtown with the RAAF will push the limits in the coming decade or two and this would be a good time to secure a new site, even though it will be irrelevant to Sydney's own problems.<br /><br />My guess is that Sydney will just choke and the rest of the country will get on with life, taking the growth it can't handle. Rennie, I’ve loved the Hunter since my Dad used to take me up there overnight when he was on the colliers in the 50s. Sometimes treated to the Newcastle Flyer on the way back. Based on the growth and attractions of the greater Hunter the shared use of Williamtown with the RAAF will push the limits in the coming decade or two and this would be a good time to secure a new site, even though it will be irrelevant to Sydney’s own problems.

My guess is that Sydney will just choke and the rest of the country will get on with life, taking the growth it can’t handle.

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