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Subject: Sun.27.12.20 daily digest

Roderick

<www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-27/maxar-technologies-2020-biggest-events-seen-from-the-sky/12982732>

"201226Sa-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-GoldCoast-Helensvale.station-ss.jpg"
 "201226Sa-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-GoldCoast-light.rail-ss.jpg"
 "201226Sa-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-Cairns-cableway-ss.jpg" 

"201227Su-new.train-Scircular-condensed.jpg"

 "201227Su-Melbourne'Age'-Wonthaggi-train.mural-ss.jpg" - with ATN & v-n

Sun.27.12.20 Metro Twitter
Buses replace trains between Laverton and Werribee until the last train of Sun.27.12  (level-crossing removal). 
In force until late 2021.  South Gippsland Highway, Dandenong South is reduced to one lane towards Cranbourne, as level-crossing work continues. Be alert for changes between Princes Hwy and Dandenong Bypass. See  http://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/disruptions/south-gippsland-highway-dandenong-south-changed-traffic-conditions
In force until December: On Princes Hwy (Dandenong, near South Gippsland Hwy, for level-crossing works) traffic is reduced to two lanes in both directions, with speed set at 60km/h. Merge with care. See http://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/disruptions/princes-highway-dandenong-south-changed-traffic-conditions
15.42 Hurstbridge line: Minor delays (a tree branch blocking the tracks near Watsonia).
- 15.59 Still minor.
18.37 Route 5, 6 and 72 trams in both directions are delayed by damaged overhead, caused by severe winds.
- 18.44:
- Route 5 trams run in sections with no trams between Stop 45 Glenferrie Road and Stop 38 Orrong Road. 
- No route 6 trams run between Stop 44 Glenferrie Road and Glen Iris.
- Route 72 trams run in sections with no trams between Stop 43 Glenferrie station and Stop 51 Gardiner station.
- 19.08:
- Route 16 trams run in sections with no trams between Stop 48 Hawthorn Rd & Stop 56 Malvern Tram Depot.  St Kilda Beach trams are delayed
- Consider Glen Waverley trains. 
- Consider bus 624 along Tooronga Road. 
- Consider route 64 trams along Dandenong Road. 
- 19.18:
- Consider Alamein, Belgrave and Lilydale trains. 
- 20.15 Details: https://bit.ly/3hpiQ0L
- 20.50:
- Route 5 trams have resumed along their normal lines, with delays.
- Route 72 trams have resumed along their normal lines, with delays.
- Route 16 trams continue to run in sections.
Buses replace trains Caulfield - Mordialloc from 20.30 until the last train (maintenance works).

Ghost Projects: Full list of promised Gold Coast infrastructure projects which won’t be built. Brianna Morris-Grant and Paul Weston December 26, 2020 Gold Coast Bulletin
Almost $5b worth of projects was promised for the Gold Coast during the election – many of them are now being delayed, dumped or spread across decades. Now we can tell you exactly what the city missed out on. SEE THE FULL LIST
video: Queensland State Budget 2020 Gold Coast
Gold Coast has almost $5 billion worth of infrastructure and tourism projects on the books — but most are being delayed, dumped or built across decades of funding.
A Bulletin special investigation reveals which of the $4.85b worth of projects have been given a green, red or amber light.
...the cableway in the hinterland is on amber...
The Palaszczuk Government is in the spotlight for not building three new train promised in the lead-up to the 2017 poll...
* Hinterland cableway. Amber light. The cableway being investigated by Gold Coast City Council would likely be similar to the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway at Cairns.
Council has reignited this debate. The original plan almost two decades ago was costed at $100 million. A consultant has finished a report for the City on a future cableway. Councillors will most likely debate it in the new year. The report will consider the Springbrook route and likely path, and Mayor Tom Tate will write to the State Government to seek support for further technical studies.
* Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3A. Green light. Just more than $50 million in 2020-21 out of $709 million to be spent on extending the tram south from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads. Includes money from the Commonwealth and council.
* Helensvale North, Pimpama and Worongary stations. Amber light. In the lead-up to the 2017 election, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced Labor had committed to building three new stations — at Worongary-Merrimac, Helensvale North and Pimpama — at a cost of $120 million.
In 2019, Labor released the initial designs for two of the three new railway stations. The government said the stations would take three years to build, opening in 2024. No date yet on
Helensvale North...
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/ghost-projects-full-list-of-promised-gold-coast-infrastructure-projects-which-wont-be-built/news-story/53ba0f124458db63bc22f7ee464fdafe>

Sun.27.12.20 Melbourne 'Herald Sun'. Prepare for delays on roads and rail KIERAN ROONEY & MATT JOHNSTON
A MASSIVE summer blitz of road and rail projects will help construction crews catch up from COVID-19 closures but major disruptions are expected to frustrate commuters throughout.
A series of major projects across the state will continue to gather pace under a significant program of works running until the end of February. It comes as new figures show traffic volumes returned to just below pre-pandemic levels over the holiday period. Spring and summer are the best time for construction projects because of sunnier conditions that create less challenges for road surfacing and other works.
While the west will be smashed by disruptions, commuters in the southeast, north, and regional areas will also face frequent road and rail blocks.
Lane closures will be a common site on the Monash Freeway between Warrigal Rd and EastLink until late January, due to road resurfacing.
Buses will replace trains along a section of the Craigieburn line from January 8 to 16 and between Dandenong and Cranbourne, January 17 to 21. Major disruptions are expected on the Frankston, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines in the lead-up to Australia Day due to signalling works. Level crossing works in Melbourne’s north will also disrupt journeys into the CBD from Seymour and Shepparton.
From January 3 to 16, buses will replace route 48 trams between Parliament Station and Barkers Rd and route 75 services between Russell St and Riversdale Junction.
Metro Tunnel works will again shut down much of the Sunbury line at the end of summer, with buses running between North Melbourne and the end of the line from February 26 to March 8.
“We encourage Victorians to allow plenty of time for their journeys,” a Department of Transport spokesman said.

Sun.27.12.20 Melbourne 'Herald Sun'. Sneaky checkout ‘sting’. SOPHIE ELSWORTH
Card fee blow as cash becomes taboo CUSTOMERS given no choice at check-outs but to pay by card are being slugged with sneaky — and often unadvertised — fees. [with ATN]