-----Original Message-----
From: Roderick Smith [mailto:rodsmith@werple.net.au]
Sent: Monday, 21 May 2018 9:59 AM
To: 'transportdownunder@yahoogroups.com'
Subject: Wed.9.5.18 daily digest

Attached

180509W Melbourne 'Herald Sun':
- letters (road & rail).
- camera museum.
- myki-machine crime.
- federal budget.
- tram.
- Beveridge subdivision.

Roderick

Wed.9.5.18 Metro Twitter
5.39 South Morang line: Major delays (overnight works running overtime).
- 5.53 Major delays starting to reduce. Running is on time from the 5.44 up
South Morang.
- 7.18 You're not running on time. You have cancelled services as well! I
have had to drive to catch another train line just to get to work in time.
This is nothing unusual for South Morang line.. cancelled, delayed,
overpacked! Get
your act together Metro.
- 7.27 Any word on the 7.24 from Lalor? It's disappeared from the next train
board and it never turned up?
- 7.33 Minor delays (a train fault at Epping). Services may terminate at /
originate from Epping.
- 7.34 Overnight works running overtime? lol pathetic.
- 7.34 Just getting word of an issue at Epping, we are just updating the
website.
- 7.36 Last we heard, the 7.32 was on its way, but that's disappeared from
the next train board too now, so I'm guessing they're all stuck behind the
defective train? Maybe I curse the trains on Wednesday's coz last week it
was
Wednesday night! Hehe.
- 7.38 The 6.54 was cancelled; that's not running on time. Why is 7 minutes
late acceptable here, while 30 seconds late is not acceptable in the rest of
the world?
- 7.47 Trains were cancelled yesterday morning with no reason provided.
Seriously sort out your shit with the South Morang line.
- 7.51 What's going on? Can't make out a word of station announcements.
- 7.51 Think it's time to upgrade the speakers at Bell.
- 7.55 The next Citybound train has just departed Preston.
- 7.57 What a mess. This line is going to struggle with the Mernda rail
extension.
- 7.59 “minor delays”? there is NO room on the delayed trains! I’m at
Reservoir and most of the commuters couldn’t get on the train -
announcements said that the 7.48 was delayed by 15 min, and now we’ve been
advised that the 7.56 is
delayed by 11 min! We need more trains!
- 7.59 Delays clearing .
- 8.05 The next train is just departing Ruthven and Keon Park.
- 8.06 Do you guys even reply to tweets? Why was there a fault?
- 8.07 You’re a pathetic train service and I hope you know you’re working
for one of the most hated companies in Australia. Appalling.
- 8.25 Two express trains from Clifton Hill to Flinders St just went past
3/4 empty. Any chance these could stop all stations to cover the 15min delay
and related backlog?
- 8.31 Doesn't make sense to have Hurstbridge express from Clifton Hill to
Jolimont when people work in between and all you have is crammed South
Morang services we can't get on for half an hour. Thanks for making people
late to work.
- 8.35 Make that three 3/4 empty express trains.
- 8.41 Delays on Hurstbridge line?
- 8.56 Trains through Jolimont are running every few minutes.
- 9.29 Wow. How embarrassing. Negatively impacting people's lives every
single day on one line or another. Metro, you're incompetent.
- 9.55 It would be better to just tell stranded and annoyed customers the
truth about why their service is late or cancelled - give realistic
timeframes factoring in packed trains. I call a b/s excuse for this mornings
disruptions. Noone cares about Metro's statistics.
- 12.54 Will there ever be express trains on the South Morang line,
especially with the pending extension to Mernda?
- 22.33 A few limited express trains on the South Morang line during peak
times would be a welcome improvement to the service and much fairer than
having them all on the Hurstbridge line.
5.57 Service changes continue on Route 12 & 109 trams today because of
ongoing repair to the damaged power infrastructure in Victoria Pde/St.
- 9.23 tram replacement buses are still operating for routes 12 & 109
between St Vincent's Plaza & Stop 29 Barkers Rd
- 11.23 tram replacement buses are still operating. This disruption is
expected to continue for some time.
- 12.42 Trams have resumed along normal lines.
9.49 Because of a rally in the city: Swanston St trams to Melbourne Uni are
operating from Stop 14 Arts Precinct to the south-eastern suburbs. Route 1
trams in both directions are diverting via La Trobe St & Kings Way between
Stop 7
RMIT & Stop 22 Dorcas St.
- 9.51 Some Route 6 trams are operating between Glen Iris & Stop 11 Collins
St. St Kilda Rd passengers consider buses 216/219/220 via Queens St or
Route 58 trams via Williams St.
- 10.09 No Route 30 trams operating between Stop 12 St Vincent's Plaza &
Stop 5 Melbourne Central Station.
- 10.24 No Route 30 trams are operating between Stop 12 St Vincent's Plaza &
Stop 5 Melbourne Central Station. No Route 1 & 6 trams are operating between
Stop 7 RMIT & Stop 14 Arts Precinct.
- 10.25 Routes 5/16 & 72 trams are operating between Stop 11 Collins St &
the south eastern suburbs. All other Swanston St trams are operating
between Stop 14 Arts Precinct & the south eastern suburbs.
- 10.26 Consider trains on the City Loop from Flinders St Station at this
time. St Kilda Rd passengers consider buses 216/219/220 via Queens St or
Route 58 trams via Williams St.
- 10.39 due to the rally, CBD buses are no longer servicing stops on Queens
St. St Kilda Rd passengers can still consider Route 58 trams along William
St at this time.
- 11.01 No Route 58 trams between Stop 12 Flemington Rd & Stop 4 Collins St..
No Route 19/57/59 trams between Stop 9 Haymarket St/Peel St & Flinders St
Station. No Route 30 trams operating between Stop 12 St Vincent's Plaza &
Stop 5
Melbourne Central Station. No Route 1 trams between Stop 7 RMIT & Stop 14
Arts Precinct. No Route 6 trams between Stop 7 RMIT University & Stop 13
Flinders St Station. Routes 5/16/72 are operating between Stop 11 Collins St
& the
south-eastern suburbs.
- 18.02 All other Swanston St trams are operating between Stop 14 Arts
Precinct & the south eastern suburbs. Passengers may wish to consider trains
on the City Loop as an alternative at this time.
11.45 Major delays Dandenong - Cranbourne due to an equipment fault near
Lynbrook. Replacement buses have been ordered to supplement train services,
however will take time to move into position.
- 12.48 clearing.
12.02 Route 70/75 trams are operating in sections with no trams between Stop
6 Russell St & Stop 4 Flinders St Station. No Route 1 & 6 trams between
Stop 7 RMIT & Stop 14 Arts Precinct. All other Swanston St trams between
Arts
Precinct & the south eastern suburbs.
- 12.02 Routes 19/57/59 trams have now resumed along normal lines. Route 58
trams have now resumed along normal lines. Route 86/96 trams have resumed
along normal lines. Collins St trams have resumed. Route 12 & 109 trams
continue to operate as an altered service due to power repair work in
Victoria St. Passengers may wish to consider trains on the City Loop as an
alternative, or Route 58 trams via William St to St Kilda Rd. [!].
- 12.11 Route 30 trams have now resumed along normal lines.
- 12.12 City Circle trams are operating a shortened service between
Waterfront City Docklands and Stop 4 Flinders St Station, Elizabeth St via
Harbour Esplanade and Flinders St.
Tait trains were a fixture for many decades on the suburban network; one
managed to venture out Gippy-way long after their retirement from regular
service!
120867: Warragul 7542 Up Elecrail Special 327M-341T-470M 16 March 1996.
<www.westonlangford.com/images/photo/120867>.
120871: Warragul 7543 Down Elecrail Special 16 March 1996
http://www.westonlangford.com/images/photo/120871
120872: Warragul Shunt for 7544 Up Elecrail Special 327 and a stabled Comeng
(362M nearest) 16 March 1996
http://www.westonlangford.com/images/photo/120872
Suburban electric trains ran out as far as Warragul between 1987 and at
least 1999.
Nov.99: a VLine Sprinter and an unrefurbished Bayside Comeng at Warragul.
Weston Langford.
124274: Pakenham 7011 8440 Up Passenger from Warragul Stabled Comeng. 3
November 1999.
http://westonlangford.com/images/photo/124274
18.46 South Morang line: Minor delays (police attending to a trespasser on
tracks). Services may be held.
- 18.56 now major.
- 19.06 Where? On the whole line or somewhere specific? As usual, this is
less than useful information.
- 19.07 Nice way to keep your on-time performance stats up by terminating
the train at Keon Park and sending it back to the city. Never mind about the
passengers though, that’s a secondary consideration obviously
- 19.30 now minor and clearing.
21.31 Frankston line: Major Delays (police).
22.25 Minor Delays (an equipment fault near Pakenham).

Melbourne Express, Wednesday, May 9, 2018
9.12 Major delays on the Hurstbridge and Werribee lines. Minor delays for
Craigieburn, South Morang, Sunbury and Upfield.
8.57 There'll be a number of road closures throughout the cbd: Russell,
LaTrobe, William, Lonsdale, Swanston and Flinders streets will all be
affected by closures until 13.30.
8.34 Strike set to disrupt the city. There are already street closures in
Carlton. The union 'Change the Rules' rally is set to disrupt the city from
10.00. Roads and transport are expected to be affected throughout the CBD.
Yarra Trams stated that virtually every street in the city will be affected
at some stage.
Back to the budget. The biggest federal infrastructure spend in Victoria for
decades – the $5 billion for a proposed rail line to the airport – looks
likely to create more animosity between the state and Commonwealth
governments.
6.51 Power lines have been brought down and a key city intersection is
closed after a collision in East Melbourne.
Crews are on the scene repairing the power lines on the corner of Smith
Street and Victoria Parade. Traffic on Victoria Parade can't cross the
median to access Smith Street.
VicRoads suggests using Brunswick or Wellington streets instead.
<www.theage.com.au/melbourne-news/melbourne-express-wednesday-may-9-2018-201
80509-p4ze4c.html>

Trapped on a 96 tram: No accessible stops added an hour to James' journey 9
May 2018.
James Carter had a big day planned.
The mobility scooter user had already spent more than two hours travelling
from Euroa to Melbourne before he caught the 96 tram to his destination –
last year's Flower & Garden show – when disaster struck.
Instead of smelling the roses, James was trapped on the tram for an hour.
James Carter was trapped for about an hour on the 96 tram. Photo: Joe Armao
After accidently missing the accessible stop closest to Carlton Gardens he
was forced to take an hour-long round trip to the end of the line in
Brunswick East and then back to the city before he could get off the tram
and head to the
show.
"Going to the end of the line and back chopped out a huge chunk of my day,"
said Mr Carter.
"It's just one in a 100 cases like that ... I know a lot of people who don't
use trams because it's all just too hard."
By law, 90 per cent of Melbourne’s tram stops were supposed to have been
made usable for people with wheelchairs, prams and walkers by the end of
2017.
Yet five months after that deadline passed less than a quarter of
Melbourne's 1700 tram stops meet the target – well below the requirement
enshrined in law 16 years ago.
This failure by successive state governments is paving the way for Melbourne
commuters with limited mobility to make a complaint to the Australian Human
Rights Commission. If they are unhappy with the outcome, they can appeal the
case in the Federal Court.
Revamping the world's largest tram network is a herculean and expensive
task, and governments of both persuasions have failed to invest enough money
to reach the target.
Meanwhile, plans for some super stops have been stalled by local disputes,
with traders concerned about stops compromising on-street parking.
The government plans to overhaul 10 tram stops, including six along
Nicholson Street between Victoria Parade and Kerr Street by September, on
William Street near La Trobe and Bourke streets, Bundoora RMIT and Balaclava
station.
Public Transport Users Association spokesman Daniel Bowen said the
investment was positive, but with the law requiring all tram stops to be
upgraded by 2022, nearly 1300 still need to be converted in the next four
years.
It's a long way from Carlton Gardens to East Brunswick, and back.
At least one tram service - route 78 between North Richmond and Balaclava -
has no accessible stops or trams.
"There is still such a long way to go to make the entire tram system
accessible," Mr Bowen said.
An incoherent roll out of the program had resulted in accessible stops being
built along tram routes that were serviced by old trams with stairs, Mr
Bowen said.
James Carter was finally able to get off the tram after an hour-long round
trip. Photo: Joe Armao
For instance, more than two thirds of tram stops along route 75 are
accessible, but the route has no low floor trams.
The problem also occurred in the reverse: low floor trams were running
through suburbs with non-accessible stops.
“There seems to be no firm plan to rectify this,” Mr Bowen said.
The final tranche of low floor E-Class trams (17) are set to arrive by mid
next year.
No new money was set aside in the state budget to buy extra low floor trams,
and the government has remained tight lipped about when it would put in the
next order.
But $16.4 million was set aside in the budget to plan and design the “next
generation” accessible trams.
"Melbourne’s next generation tram is a step closer," a government
spokeswoman said.
“We’re getting on with upgrading Melbourne’s tram infrastructure to create a
modern, accessible network,” she said.
VCOSS chief executive Emma King said it was unacceptable that Melbourne had
a "two-tier transport system", where only some stops could be used by people
with limited mobility.
She said a modest amount of funding was set aside for tram stop upgrades in
the state budget, with stops in Essendon and South Yarra receiving funding.
Worst tramlines for disabled and pram access
•Route 78: 0 accessible stops. No low floor trams.
•Route 57: 7 accessible stops. No low floor trams.
•Route 1: 13 accessible tram stops. No low floor trams.
•Route 72: 16 accessible stops. Partly serviced by low floor trams.
•Route 58: 17 accessible stops. Partly serviced by low floor trams.
<www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/trapped-on-a-96-tram-no-accessible-stop
s-added-an-hour-to-james-journey-20180503-p4zd34.html>
* I’m all for accessibility and agree with the premise of the article that
this should be accomplished with more speed. Would it not be easier and
cheaper to improve the curb access and build or retrofit trams with a
lowereing and
lifting door well? Seems like less work than the road regrading and platform
construction of the current assessible tram stop and may get us a faster if
maybe stepwise solution.
* I can't use Toorak railway station for the same reason; the gap between
the carriage and platform is frightening large!
* I am elderly and I cant use the low floor trams unless there is a raised
platform due to my difficulty in boarding and alighting; the step is just
too high. It often takes me much longer because I have to wait for the older
trams.
* According to Wikipedia, Melbourne's tram network has four times the length
of track of the network in Kolkata.
* But wait, the phone app for PTV works very well. I suppose that it's a
matter of priorities.
* There's plenty of room for improvement here too. When I enquired about the
accuracy of tram departure times on the tramtracker to yarra trams I was
advised the tracking does not actually use GPS but is based on expected
arrival times, so there can be a huge discrepancy.
'It's not just fluoro jumpers': 100,000 marchers bring city to a halt, 9 May
2018, 10.35.
A union protest in Melbourne's CBD shut down roads and tram routes for three
hours on Wednesday as up to 100,000 workers rallied for new pay deals.
Thousands of union members carrying banners and flags marched from the top
of the city down La Trobe Street to the Magistrates Court as part of the
Change the Rules rally that started at Trades Hall at 10am.
Video Melbourne CBD set for standstill in union march
A three-hour union protest in the centre of Melbourne's CBD will see all
city tram and bus routes disrupted as up to 100,000 workers rally for new
pay deals.
Major thoroughfares in the city, including Russell Street, La Trobe Street,
William Street, Lonsdale Street, Swanston Street and Flinders Street were
affected by closures until about 1.30pm, according to VicRoads.
All city tram routes were affected.
The crowd stopped just after 11am outside the Melbourne Magistrates court
where CFMMEU secretary John Setka and his deputy, Shaun Reardon, were
appearing for a committal hearing after allegedly blackmailing two Boral
executives.
Speakers at the rally urged those gathered to show support for the two
high-profile union leaders.
“They care that all of us come home from work. Isn’t that important,
comrades?” said Victorian Trades Hall Council Secretary Luke Hilakari.
The crowd stopped just after 11am outside the Melbourne Magistrates court
where CFMMEU secretary John Setka and his deputy, Shaun Reardon, are
appearing for a committal hearing. Photo: Joe Armao
“Do we support Shaun and John?” he asked to loud applause and cheers.
The crowd then looped back towards Lonsdale Street before arriving at its
final destination next to Federation Square and Flinders Street Station
before midday.
Those attending the rally were from a broad range of backgrounds and
professions, with some bringing their young children along to watch the
protest.
Selene Sharp and her four-year-old son Mitchell marched towards the front of
the huge crowd.
The union protest lasted three hours. Photo: Courtesy Channel Seven
“I’m here to support all the workers and the rules they want changed,” she
said. “Flexibility at work, good childcare ... all the things that are
important and are important for my son.”
The Melbourne accountant is a member of the Finance Sector Union and said
she had attended a rally for penalty rates recently but it was nowhere near
as big.
Related Article Union movement can't afford to waste goodwill of
'staggering' march
“[The rally] shows people from all different backgrounds fighting,'' Ms
Sharp said. "It’s not just about the CFMEU and fluoro jumpers, it’s bigger
than that.”
Mich-Elle Myers, a member of the Maritime Union of Australia, was a wharfie
for nine years and said she was marching after seeing too many friends lose
jobs unfairly over the years.
“The war on workers is on,” she said.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions is calling for an increase to the
minimum wage of $50 a week as part of its Change the Rules campaign.
The Andrews government has said it wants a smaller minimum wage increase of
about $27 a week.
In its submission to the Fair Work Commission in March, it argued that an
increase in the minimum wage, from $695 to $722, would be a modest and fair
way and avoid the creation of a working underclass.
Workers filled LaTrobe Street as they make their way to the Magistrates
Court. Photo: Joe Armao
It said that Victoria was in its 25th year of uninterrupted economic growth
but that wages growth was subdued.
Wages grew 2 per per cent in Victoria in 2016-17, in line with the national
average.
Industrial Relations Minister Natalie Hutchins said the government supported
the ACTU’s campaign for more secure work and better pay.
“We have a proud history of standing up for working Victorians – be it
fighting for penalty rates, taking steps to clean up the labour hire
industry or making long service leave fairer,” Ms Hutchins said.
Workers carried banners and flags from dozens of unions. Photo: Chris
Hopkins
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said the large rally was a sign many
Victorians were struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living.
“Victorians are hurting with cost of living pressures, especially
electricity prices, so today’s rally should be a real wake-up call to Daniel
Andrews,” Mr Guy said.
Mr Hilakari told the crowd that the system was "fundamentally broken for
working people".
"It's been broken for far too long," he said. "Wages are at record lows yet
company profits right now are at record highs.
"Last night's budget did nothing for working people," he said.
"Malcolm Turnbull threw crumbs to Australian workers. Crumbs are no longer
good enough for working people – we want the whole cake. We want our penalty
rates back, we want equal pay for women."
"We want to make sure our jobs are safe," he said.
Melbourne University staff also went on strike for four hours on Wednesday
as part of their long campaign for a new enterprise agreement, and Port of
Melbourne workers have reportedly walked off the job.
274 comments
* do we want to end up like america. i think not
* those against the march are clearly not struggling. u know gone are the
day when your utilities were just a bill. now u...
<www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/war-on-workers-is-on-protest-crowd-of-1
00-000-brings-city-to-a-standstill-20180509-p4ze5z.html>

Developer in bid to provide hundreds of Brisbane CBD car parks 9 May 2018.
<www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/developer-in-bid-to-provide-hu
ndreds-of-brisbane-cbd-car-parks-20180509-p4zec1.h

South-east Queensland's unfunded critical infrastructure projects 9 May
2018.
Six of south-east Queensland’s most critical infrastructure projects
received funding in the 2018 federal budget, but rail, bus and road projects
are yet to be financed.
The Council of Mayors (SEQ) submitted its federal budget wish-list in
December and travelled to Canberra in March to seek a funding commitment
from the Commonwealth.
South-east Queensland is still waiting on funding for four of its most
critical infrastructure projects. Photo: Michelle Smith.
The mayors’ submission included several of the most critical infrastructure
projects, some of which received funding, while others are still waiting.
When the federal budget was handed down on Tuesday, billions of dollars was
committed to six of the wish-list projects, including the North Coast Rail
Line, Bruce Highway Upgrades, Brisbane Metro, M1 Pacific Motorway,
Cunningham Highway and the business case for passenger bus/rail from
Toowoomba to Rosewood.
The unfunded critical projects include the Brisbane Valley Highway Upgrade
between Blacksoil and Blackbutt, the Manly to Cleveland Rail Duplication,
the Eastern Busway to Capalaba and the Mt Lindesay Highway upgrade business
case.
Related Article Mayor fumes as 'university site' sold for housing in budget
blindside.
Redlands mayor Karen Williams said the Manly to Cleveland rail duplication
and the Eastern Busway extension had been on wish lists with both the
federal and state governments for many years.
“Obviously we are probably going to need a partnership approach from those
levels of government to make them a reality,” Cr Williams said.
“We notice there has been quite a bit of rail spend in south-east Queensland
and I’m happy for south-east Queensland, but we don’t want to be the last
mile of infrastructure delivery here in the Redlands and we need that
duplication of rail to get people out of their cars.”
Cr Williams said she was grateful for any level of support, and hoped the
state government would fund the business case for the Eastern Busway
extension in its budget to be handed down in June.
Related Article: Brisbane Metro gets $300 million federal funding boost
Scenic Rim mayor Greg Christensen said he was disappointed there was no
money for the Mt Lindesay Highway upgrade business case in the budget.
“Maybe one of these days the freight will grind to a halt and then when
people can’t get food in the supermarket or construction material to their
project they will realise [the importance of the highway upgrade]," he said..
Cr Christensen said the corridor was already well above its capacity and had
no public transport available but the regional council needed help funding
the business case.
“Any form of investment in a business case would be beyond our individual
capacity,” he said.
South-east Queensland’s most critical infrastructure projects as identified
by the Council of Mayors (SEQ):
•Brisbane Valley highway upgrade – Blacksoil to Blackbutt.
•North coast rail line – Beerburrum and Nambour.
•Bruce Highway upgrades – Pine River to Nambour.
•Manly to Cleveland rail duplication.
•Eastern Busway to Capalaba.
•Brisbane Metro.
•M1 Pacific Motorway upgrades.
•Mt Lindesay Highway upgrade business case.
•Cunningham Highway – Yamanto to Willowbank.
•Passenger bus/rail service business case – Toowoomba to Rosewood.
<www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/south-east-queensland-s-unfund
ed-critical-infrastructure-projects-20180509-p4zeae.html>

A VICTORIAN family has pocketed an eye-watering $200 million after a
property group purchased their farm north of Melbourne. Here’s why it sold
for so much.
Family hits pay dirt with $200 million farm sale north of Melbourne 09 May
2018 .
A 600ha cattle farm at 500 Old Hume Hwy, Beveridge has sold for about $200
million.
A FAMILY has pocketed about $200 million from the mega-sale of their cattle
farm on Melbourne’s northern fringe.
Industry sources said a Melbourne-based developer paid the hefty sum for the
600ha site at 500 Old Hume Hwy, Beveridge, which it intends to turn into
about 6000 residential blocks.
Beveridge, 42km north of the city, is famed for being bushranger Ned Kelly’s
first home town.
Biggin & Scott Land managing director Frank Nagle said the delighted sellers
were fifth generation farmers and members of the Laffan family, which had
run cattle in the area for about 100 years.
New life for Old Castlemaine Gaol after purchase by prominent artist
Quarter-acre block will cost a multimillion-dollar sum
The farm has room for 6000 residential blocks.
The Laffans reportedly bought the property, known as Deloraine, at a public
auction in 1964 for less than £90,000.
They decided to sell it because Melbourne’s expanding borders had “caught up
with them” and they wanted to be away from the hustle and bustle, Mr Nagle
said: “They’re fifth generation cattle farmers. They’re farming cattle as we
speak.
“They’re happy.”
Deloraine was owned by late wool industry leader Douglas Boyd before the
Laffans.
Mr Nagle said Ned Kelly — whose father Red built their first home in
Beveridge in 1859 — also used to ride horses through the property.
The Laffan family has owned Deloraine for 54 years.
The Herald Sun understands the buyer of the site was Akron Property Group,
which is behind another housing development in the western suburb of
Rockbank and two apartment towers in the Melbourne CBD.
The group is expected to seek planning approval to create a masterplanned
community of about 6000 lots there.
“It’s a very large parcel of land and in Melbourne, there’s not a lot left
(for residential development,” Mr Nagle said.
The site is next to Stockland’s 11,000-block Cloverton housing development
and near MAB Corp and Gibson Property Group’s $8 billion Merrifield
mixed-use estate in Mickleham.
The site has been used for cattle farming.
The agent said residential lots and house and land packages on Melbourne’s
outskirts were in high demand from homebuyers, as the city’s population
boomed.
About a 50-50 split of local and offshore investors were funnelling money
into greenfield developments in an effort to capitalise on this demand, he
said.
The Urban Development Institute of Australia’s State of the Land 2018 report
found the median lot price in Melbourne’s greenfield market rose 29 per cent
to $304,000 last year.
RELATED: Land prices skyrocket on Melbourne fringes .
<www.realestate.com.au/news/family-hits-pay-dirt-with-200-million-farm-sale-
north-of-melbourne>

Tram collision in St Kilda Rd causes delays
Herald Sun May 9, 2018.
A tram and car have collided on St Kilda Rd. Picture: Aneeka Simonis.
PEAK-hour commuters have been left stranded after a collision between a tram
and car backed up services along St Kilda Rd.
Emergency services were called to reports of a collision near The Alfred
hospital just before 6pm, throwing the network into chaos while authorities
assessed the situation.
The collision left hundreds of passengers stranded on St Kilda Rd as trams
banked in both directions.
Victoria Police have now cleared the scene but passengers have been warned
to expect major delays as Yarra Trams works to return normal service.
No major injuries were reported.
The corridor is the world’s busiest tram route, with routes 3, 5,6, 16, 64
and 6 all impacted by the delays.
18.10: St Kilda Rd trams are delayed in both directions due to a collision
at Stop 26 Moubray St & St Kilda Rd. Some Route 6 trams towards Glen Iris
are diverting via Commercial Rd along Route 72 from Stop 25 Commercial Rd to
Stop 44 Glenferrie Rd.
St Kilda Rd trams are delayed in both directions due to a collision at Stop
26 Moubray St & St Kilda Rd. Emergency service crews are on the scene. This
disruption is expected to take some time to clear
18.25 St Kilda Rd trams have resumed along their normal lines. Delays may
occur.
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/tram-collision-on-st-kilda-rd-causes-del
ays/news-story/a4874ca4f7df4238789e3869aafc9272>

MFS fire truck gets stuck on new raised tram lines on North Tce.
Adelaide 'Advertiser' May 9, 2018.
video: Fire truck gets stuck on tram lines in Adelaide CBD.
A FIRE truck became beached on a raised segment of tram track causing
traffic chaos in the CBD.
The MFS rescue vehicle was responding to a call out with other units at
6.30pm on Wednesday when the driver attempted to use the tram tracks to get
around peak-hour traffic on North Tce. The accident happened in poor
visibility outside Parliament House.
A MFS fire truck got stuck on the newly installed raised tram line outside
Parliament House on North Tce. Picture: AAP / Brenton Edwards
As the 20-tonne fire truck slipped it landed on a car, wedging the driver
side door shut. The driver was not injured and the car sustained only minor
damage.
Trams were replaced with buses while the rescue effort was underway.
It took two exhausting hours for the MFS and transport personnel to prop up
the truck, using planks of wood to pull it back on to the track with the aid
of a heavy tow truck about 8.30pm.
Crews work to free the MFS truck from the tram track. Picture: AAP / Brenton
Edwards
MFS Commander Greg Davis said when the tyre skidded off the tram track the
driver knew it was too late.
“Our rescue appliance was returning from one incident and responding to
another going through traffic and as they wove through, their tyre got stuck
on an elevated section of tram track,” Mr Davis said.
“When that occurred it dragged the truck up on to track and it was unable to
steer. By the time we were able to stop the appliance it was already off the
ground.
“Being a heavy truck, weighing 20 tonnes, we had to crib it to make sure it
wasn’t going to roll over before we got a heavy tow truck to pull us out.
The truck became stuck in bad weather conditions. Picture: AAP / Brenton
Edwards
Mr Davis said the police and transport department did a great job supporting
them while the rescue effort continued.
As for the driver, Mr Davis defended the experienced firefighter and said he
had already spoken to him about the incident.
“I had a talk to the driver, he is highly experienced and being a rescue
truck they go to horrible incidents all the time so they are very mindful of
making sure that we get their safely,” Mr Davis said.
The MFS truck was on the tram tracks for about two hours. Picture: AAP /
Brenton Edwards
“It’s a pretty dark night, it was raining and it was difficult to see with
the lights of cars, so I think it was just one of those things that occur
even when we are doing our best and doing it safely.
“I had a talk to him to make sure he was OK and he was still confident.
“I think the family who were in the car are keen to come down to the station
with their kids and we are certainly happy to let them come down and see all
the trucks and have a chat.”
Comments 58
<www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/law-order/mfs-fire-truck-gets-stuck-on-new-rais
ed-tram-lines-on-north-tce/news-story/f6ba3e39bae544017c332ea1addbe6a5>