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From: Roderick Smith [mailto:rodsmith@werple.net.au]
Sent: Wednesday, 26 July 2017 12:42 PM
To: 'transportdownunder@yahoogroups.com'
Subject: snippets, Wed.26.7.17

Attached:

170725Tu 'SMH' - Parramatta plans.

170726W Melbourne 'Herald Sun':
- editorial, high power costs. with tdu.
- tram-vehicle collisions.

Roderick.

July 25 2017 New levy on 70,000 homes around Parramatta to pay for parks,
schools, transport .
..Full map of the Greater Parramatta plan.
The state government could charge levies of around $20,000 per dwelling on
tens of thousands of new homes to be built on a stretch of central Sydney
from Westmead through Parramatta and Olympic Park to Strathfield.
More videos Parramatta development plans announced.
The NSW government announce development plans for their vision of the
Greater Parramatta area.
The levies would help to fund schools, parks, light rail and roads through
an area the government is hoping to expand by 70,000 new homes or more over
the next 20 years.
While much of the area has already been subject to intense development and
development speculation, Planning and Housing Minister Anthony Roberts said
the combined area would be co-ordinated through one 20-year plan, which
would also result in the creation of 110,000 jobs.
An artist's impression of redevelopment at North Parramatta. Photo: Supplied
..
To fund the infrastructure needs of the area, a special infrastructure
contribution will be levied on new homes across the region.
The size of that contribution has not been confirmed. However, the
government has mooted a $20,000 levy per dwelling to help fund the
Parramatta light rail line, and it is understood the contribution discussed
on Tuesday would be similar.
Department of Planning and Environment is also considering a two-tiered levy
structure, to reflect the different land values across the region.
Developers, however, have cautioned that the levies, which will come on top
of council charges, could jeopardise potential housing projects or push up
house prices.
Mr Roberts said he was "very excited" about the co-ordinated plan for the
greater Parramatta region.
An artist's impression of the proposed redevelopment of Harris Park. Photo:
Supplied "I can guarantee that in 20 years' time there will be more open
green space along the corridor than there is today," Mr Roberts said. He
added that it would be "very unusual or even unheard of" for a minister in
his position to be able to make such a promise.
The infrastructure levy will contribute to a schedule of projects to be
detailed in the coming months. The projects will include parks, roads and
schools, as well as the light rail line in the area. Mr Roberts said a
"green grid" would be constructed along the Parramatta River foreshore with
connected open spaces, walkways and cycleways.
Impression of the greater Parramatta proposed redevelopment at Silverwater
Park. Photo: Supplied
The minister said the affordable housing policy suggested by the Greater
Sydney Commission would apply in the area. That policy is for 5 to 10 per
cent of the increased value of an area to be allocated toward affordable
housing, to be rented to low- and middle-income earners.
"The 5 to 10 per cent will apply," said Mr Roberts. "But I would expect . I
think there is capacity here to go a bit higher than that, and we will have
a look at new options."
An artist's impression of the greater Parramatta proposed redevelopment, at
Sydney Olympic Park central precinct. Photo: Supplied The infrastructure
contribution levy will be in addition to funds raised by local councils from
developers. The City of Parramatta, for instance, has proposed an ambitious
50 per cent levy on the value created by high-density residential rezoning
in the Parramatta CBD.
The growth area announced on Tuesday will incorporate 12 precincts. These
are: Westmead; Parramatta North; Parramatta CBD; Harris Park and Rosehill;
Rydalmere; Carlingford Corridor (including Telopea and Dundas); Silverwater;
Camellia; Sydney Olympic Park and Carter Street; Homebush; Parramatta Road;
and Wentworth Point.
The Department of Planning and Environment has flagged the creation of a new
primary school at Camellia.
As well as the light rail line - to be built in two stages through the
region - there are also likely to be at least two stops built on a proposed
West Metro rail project. The West Metro, to be built some time next decade,
will link stops at Parramatta and Olympic Park with the Sydney central
business district.
David Borger, the western Sydney director of the Sydney Business Chamber,
said: "It's fair and reasonable that developers pay a contribution toward
infrastructure and affordable housing, but what's not clear is how much they
will have to pay.
"State and local government really need to work together on these fees and
charges rather than running their own race," said Mr Borger.
Labor's planning spokesman, Michael Daley, said more should be done to
supply affordable housing.
"You can build 72,000 dwellings but if you don't preserve some for middle-
and low-income families they will all just go," Mr Daley said.
"You are putting forests of high rises across this corridor, changing the
nature of these communities, and you are not really doing anything about
first-home buyers," he said.
Chris Johnson, from the developer lobby group Urban Taskforce, said the
"staggering array" of new levies would jeopardise housing supply.
Steve Mann, the chief executive of the Urban Development Institute of
Australia said the number of levies meant that 70,000 homes was an
unrealistic target.
"It's simply unfeasible for developers to go ahead with new projects under
the current tax regime," Mr Mann said.
More Articles:
Parramatta Road tram plans developed - then scrapped .
<www.smh.com.au/nsw/new-levy-on-70000-homes-around-parramatta-to-pay-for-par
ks-schools-transport-20170725-gxi44p.html>

Gas projects' value drops, with onus on services sector to fill the gap.
with tdu.
Herald Sun July 26, 2017.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/business/gas-projects-value-drops-with-onus-on-service
s-sector-to-fill-the-gap/news-story/cef53784f57aa4e34f0cc55bedc6faf2>

Route 58 highlighted as one of Melbourne's most accident-prone tram routes.
Herald Sun July 26, 2017.
TRAM drivers fear it is only a matter of time before someone is killed along
route 58, which runs from West Coburg to Toorak.
After a May 22 crash on Elliott Ave, near the zoo, 14 people were taken to
hospital. And in January 2015, a beer truck hit a tram there.
Cars must also give way at Poplar Rd, near Royal Park station, and tram
tracks in Peel St cross a busy roundabout at Dudley St.
Frequent route 58 passenger Matt Lisner said close calls were a daily
occurrence.
"I've lost count of the times a car has gone around that roundabout (Peel
St) into the path of an oncoming tram," Mr Lisner said.
"It's very badly designed. Going through Parkville is also a nightmare, and
I wince every time I cross Elliott Ave," he said.
video: TRUCK COLLIDES WITH 58 TRAM IN ROYAL PARK.
Tram truck crash Melbourne. Paramedics look over passengers injured when a
tram and truck crashed on Elliott Avenue. Picture: Nicole Garmston.
Phil Altieri, assistant branch secretary of the Rail Tram and Bus Union,
said route 58, along with routes 96, 86, and 75, was one of the riskiest for
potential injury.
"There're a few hotspots (on 58). It's not uncommon for trams to hit cars.
We have about three a day, so it's fairly regular," he said.
The network has 250km of double track (500km total); 75 per cent of it
shared with other road users.
"Nowhere else in the world has that kind of set-up," Mr Altieri said.
A route 58 tram - and a van - get a little close for comfort on Elliott
Avenue in Parkville. Picture: Eugene Hyland.
A route 58 tram passes through the roundabout at Peel and Dudley streets
near the Queen Victoria Market. Picture: Eugene Hyland.
He said many tram drivers considered Elliott Ave one of the worst black
spots.
"That particular spot, in terms of safety, would be one of the worst, if not
the worst. Just the way that whole intersection is configured, it's a
notorious spot, and when a problem occurs it's pretty serious. Sooner or
later someone's going to die there."
Route 58 is not among the worst five routes for vehicle collisions. Routes
86 and 75 have the most such crashes, but are the longest.
A Yarra Trams spokesman said almost all crashes were caused by cars turning
in front of trams. Safety was being improved by increasing separation,
giving trams more priority at traffic lights, and raising awareness.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/route-58-highlighted-as-one-of-melbourne
s-most-accidentprone-tram-routes/news-story/f92f1bc2cd0edfb0e04c16cde244b2fd
>

* I'd reckon if they built a tunnel from Tulla freeey to the Eastern freeway
that may reduce the traffic going through that area. Just a thought.
* Speed kills, slow the trams down, and get rid of gun ho drivers of the
trams.
* This is not the tram route's fault! That crossing in Elliott Ave is
clearly signposted, ahas bells, lights and a very clear approach from either
direction. Drivers just need to pay attention!