----- Forwarded message -----

To:australiantransportnews@... australiantransportnews@...>
Sent: Tuesday, 26 October 2021, 07:54:06 pm AEDT
Subject: Mon.26.7.21 daily digest

Roderick

"210726M-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-Transdev.site-ss.jpg"  [show this to non-TDU friends; ask them about what it reminds them.  See how many respond: 'That's giving a nod to a former tram depot'].
 "210726M-Metro-Twitter-Sydney-airport-metro-a-ss.jpg"
 "210726M-Metro-Twitter-Sydney-airport-metro-b-ss.jpg" 
"210726M-Metro-Twitter-Sydney-airport-metro-c-ss.jpg"

 "210726M-RailExpress-airport-metro-map.jpg" 
"210726M-RailExpress-airport-metro-StMarys-ss.jpg" 

Mon.26.7.21 Metro Twitter
Aircraft: No ramp access to platforms until late 2021 (pedestrian-underpass works).
Flinders St: still with a lane closed for tunnel works.
Bondi Road, Bonbeach is closed in both directions until early October, as part of the level-crossing removal.  Edithvale Road level crossing is closed. See http://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/disruptions/bondi-road-bonbeach-level-crossing-closure-july
Craigieburn line: Buses replace trains North Melbourne - Essendon from 20.35 until the last train (maintenance works).
Buses replace trains North Melbourne - Upfield from 20.35 until the last train (maintenance works).
Sunbury line: Buses replace trains North Melbourne - Sunshine from 20.45 until the last train (maintenance works).
Buses replace trains on sections of the Frankston/Stony Point lines from 21.00 until the last train of Sun 1 Aug (level-crossing works).

<www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/melbourne-to-build-inner-city-battery-network-in-green-power-push-20210726-p58cwo.html>

Corruption watchdog coming as car parks drive more questions Katina Curtis and Shane Wright July 26, 2021
Attorney-General Michaelia Cash has promised Parliament will have a chance to debate a planned anti-corruption watchdog before the end of the year as the opposition seeks a second inquiry into the government’s commuter car park scheme.
Alan Tudge, the minister who drove the creation of the $660 million car park fund in the lead-up to the 2019 election, has declined to answer questions about it since shifting out of the urban infrastructure portfolio in December.
The existing car park at Ringwood station, one of several sites chosen for upgrades under the federal government’s controversial congestion fund.CREDIT:PAUL JEFFERS
The Auditor-General has lashed the scheme, saying funding was targeted at government-held and marginal seats rather than based on need. The audit reported sites were proposed by Liberal MPs, senators and candidates or matched Labor’s election promises from opposition. Twenty-seven of the 47 projects were approved by Prime Minister Scott Morrison the day before he called the 2019 federal election.
A former Supreme Court judge has labelled the car parks program corrupt and governance experts fear the nation is on a “slippery slope” into corruption. But the government’s proposed Commonwealth Integrity Commission wouldn’t be able to investigate it or similar schemes in its current form, which only allows it to investigate suspected criminal offences.
Mr Morrison announced plans for the integrity commission in December 2018 but the plan stalled during 2019 and was not revived until December 2020, when the government released the draft bill and asked for views.
More than 330 written submissions were made and the government held 47 consultation sessions.
“The government is currently considering the extensive feedback received through the consultation process in order to inform further refinement of the draft legislation,” a spokesman for Senator Cash said.
“The Morrison government is committed to putting our legislation to establish a Commonwealth Integrity Commission to Parliament by the end of the year.”
Labor has asked Parliament’s public accounts and audit committee to examine the car park scheme in a bid to get some of the ministers involved in the program to answer questions about its creation and operation.
The Age and Sydney Morning Herald sent 10 questions to Mr Tudge about the processes and guidelines he used to choose the projects for funding, steps he took to assure himself the funding was spent in an efficient, effective, economical and ethical way, and his involvement with a “top 20 marginals” list the audit office says was the starting point for the scheme.
The entire response from Mr Tudge’s spokesman was: “Questions about urban infrastructure programs should be directed to Minister [Paul] Fletcher’s office.”
Mr Fletcher became the Urban Infrastructure Minister in late December. He previously held the portfolio for eight months in early 2018, before the creation of the car park scheme.
“Like most infrastructure spending, projects within the commuter car park program were decisions of government,” a spokeswoman for Mr Fletcher said. “The government’s decision making was based on need and within the context of the Commonwealth’s broader infrastructure investment.”
The infrastructure department advised ministers on whether “a project represents a proper use of relevant money”, the spokeswoman said. The audit had noted there were no instances where Mr Tudge had approved funding for a project the department said should be rejected or vice versa, she said.
However, analysis of data from RMIT University’s Australian Urban Observatory casts doubt on the claim the projects were chosen based on need.
In Victoria, 14 of the 30 projects are in local government areas where more than 50 per cent of homes are already within walkable distance of usable public transport. In NSW, six of the 11 projects are in areas with high access to public transport.
Opposition urban infrastructure spokesman Andrew Giles said the “shameless attempts at justification” didn’t add up.
“The evidence is clear, the commuter car parks program is sports rorts on an industrial scale,” he said. “It’s treating public money as a Liberal slush fund. And it’s yet another illustration of the urgent need for a national anti-corruption commission.”
In the Senate, Labor plans to introduce legislation that would force a minister who approves a grant to their own seat or rejects grants approved by their departments to reveal that within 30 days of making the decision. The finance minister would then have five days to table the information.
Shadow finance minister Katy Gallagher said this would reduce the time a minister could hide details of a decision from 16 months to two months.
# State    Car Park location    Total Project Cost ($m)    Total Aus Gov Funding ($m)    Electorate    Current MP    Status
VIC    Ferntree Gully    15.0    15.0    Aston (Liberal)    Alan Tudge    In planning
VIC    Belgrave/Lilydale Lines - Boronia    20.0    20.0    Aston (Liberal)    Alan Tudge    In planning
NSW    Panania    TBD    7.5    Banks (Liberal)    David Coleman    In planning
NSW    T8 East Hills Line - Revesby    32.0    12.5    Banks (Liberal)    David Coleman    In planning
NSW    T8 East Hills Line - Riverwood    41.0    10.5    Banks (Liberal)    David Coleman    In planning
NSW    Hurstville    TBD    7.5    Banks (Liberal), Barton (Labor)    David Coleman/ Linda Burney    In planning
VIC    Northern Lines (Craigieburn, Hurstbridge)    TBD    70.0    Calwell (Labor), McEwen (Labor), Scullin (Labor)    Maria Vamvakinou/ Rob Mitchell / Andrew Giles    In planning
WA    Mandurah Station Parking Bays    32.0    16.0    Canning (Liberal)    Andrew Hastie    In planning
VIC    Belgrave/Lilydale Lines - Heatherdale    15.0    15.0    Deakin (Liberal)    Michael Sukkar    In planning
VIC    Belgrave/Lilydale Lines - Heathmont    15.0    15.0    Deakin (Liberal)    Michael Sukkar    In planning
VIC    Croydon    18.0    18.0    Deakin (Liberal)    Michael Sukkar    In planning
VIC    Mitcham    15.0    15.0    Deakin (Liberal)    Michael Sukkar    Cancelled
VIC    Ringwood    15.0    15.0    Deakin (Liberal)    Michael Sukkar    In planning
VIC    Frankston Line - Frankston    24.5    24.5    Dunkley (changed Liberal to Labor)    Peta Murphy    In planning
VIC    Frankston Line - Kananook    7.0    7.0    Dunkley (changed Liberal to Labor)    Peta Murphy    Cancelled
VIC    Frankston Line - Seaford    7.0    7.0    Dunkley (changed Liberal to Labor)    Peta Murphy    Cancelled
QLD    Coomera Station commuter car park, Coomera    TBD    15.0    Fadden (LNP)    Stuart Robert    In planning
QLD    Beenleigh Station commuter car park, Beenleigh    30.0    15.0    Forde (LNP)    Stuart Robert    In planning
QLD    Loganlea Station commuter car park, Loganlea    TBD    15.0    Forde (LNP)    Stuart Robert    In planning
VIC    Sandringham Line - Elsternwick    9.1    9.1    Goldstein (Liberal)    Tim Wilson    In planning
VIC    Sandringham Line - North Brighton    6.9    6.9    Goldstein (Liberal)    Tim Wilson    In planning
VIC    Sandringham Line - Sandringham    3.1    3.1    Goldstein (Liberal)    Tim Wilson    In planning
VIC    Bentleigh    9.1    9.1    Goldstein (Liberal)    Tim Wilson    In planning
VIC    Hampton    4.0    4.0    Goldstein (Liberal)    Tim Wilson    In planning
VIC    Belgrave/Lilydale Lines - Camberwell    20.0    20.0    Kooyong (Liberal)    Josh Frydenberg    In planning
VIC    Belgrave/Lilydale Lines - Canterbury    15.0    15.0    Kooyong (Liberal)    Josh Frydenberg    In planning
VIC    Belgrave/Lilydale Lines - Surrey Hills    15.0    15.0    Kooyong (Liberal)    Josh Frydenberg    In planning
VIC    Glenferrie Station    15.0    15.0    Kooyong (Liberal)    Josh Frydenberg    In planning
VIC    Berwick Railway Station    15.0    15.0    La Trobe (Liberal)    Jason Wood    In planning
VIC    Pakenham Line - Beaconsfield    4.7    15.0    La Trobe (Liberal)    Jason Wood    In planning
VIC    Pakenham Line - Narre Warren    15.0    15.0    La Trobe (Liberal)    Jason Wood    In planning
VIC    Pakenham Line - Pakenham    15.0    15.0    La Trobe (Liberal)    Jason Wood    In planning
NSW    Emu Plains    33.4    15.0    Lindsay (changed Labor to Liberal)    Melissa McIntosh    In planning
NSW    T1 North Shore, Northern and Western Line - Kingswood    20.0    20.0    Lindsay (changed Labor to Liberal)    Melissa McIntosh    In planning
NSW    T1 North Shore, Northern and Western Line - St Marys    33.8    33.8    Lindsay (changed Labor to Liberal)    Melissa McIntosh    In planning
NSW    T8 East Hills Line - Campbelltown    22.1    22.1    Macarthur (Labor)    Mike Freelander    In planning
NSW    T8 East Hills Line - Macarthur    15.0    15.0    Macarthur (Labor)    Mike Freelander    In planning
VIC    Sandringham Line - Balaclava    15.0    15.0    Macnamara (Labor)    Josh Burns    Cancelled
VIC    Doncaster Park and Ride    6.0    6.0    Menzies (Liberal)    Kevin Andrews    In planning
VIC    Eltham Station    6.0    6.0    Menzies (Liberal)    Kevin Andrews    In planning
QLD    Commuter Car Park Upgrades    30.0    15.0    Petrie (LNP), Ryan (LNP)    Luke Howarth/Julian Simmonds    In planning
NSW    Gosford    TBD    30.0    Robertson (Liberal)    Lucy Wicks    In planning
NSW    Woy Woy    TBD    5.0    Robertson (Liberal)    Lucy Wicks    In planning
Source: Department of Infrastructure
RELATED ARTICLE Ringwood railway station car park in suburban Melbourne. One of the projects promised funding in 2019, it is still to be upgraded. Stopping all marginal seats: A Melbourne guide to the car parks controversy
RELATED ARTICLE Treasurer Josh Frydenber pledged $65 million for 2000 car spaces at four railway stations in the seat of Kooyong ahead of the hotly contested 2019 election. Treasurer promised car park for a train station that soon won’t exist
RELATED ARTICLE David Harper QC said the car parks program certainly appears to be an instance of taxpayers’ money being spent with a view to advancing the interests of the government. Former judge labels $660 million car park fund ‘corruption’
<www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/corruption-watchdog-coming-as-car-parks-drive-more-questions-20210725-p58cnb.html>

Seddon Square to open former Transdev site to 1000 residents, public. Nathan Mawby 26 Jul 2021 Herald Sun
The Seddon Square development by ANPLUS will open much of the former Transdev site to the public for the first time in decades.
After decades behind cyclone-wire fences, Seddon’s former Transdev bus and tram depot is being opened to the public.
The Seddon Square development will add 400 new homes that are expected to house 1000 residents – almost a fifth of the suburb’s current population.
More than 35 per cent of the 1.4ha site will also end up being accessible to the local community.
The shared amenity will include a mix of greenery-lined pedestrian walkways, some with retail spaces, and a 1700sq m park locals and the council are currently providing feedback on.
“The old cyclone-fenced concrete block with a couple of warehouses on it wasn’t the most attractive block in Seddon,” ANPLUS development director Francis Wong said.
“So we are looking forward to this project.”
Greenery, aesthetic features and retail spaces will line the spaces opened to the public.
The first release with 70 apartments and seven townhouses, Walter Lane, will be for sale in about a month.
In addition to the public space, residents will also have a private garden space, a communal dining space, co-working areas and meeting rooms.
DKO Architecture has paid homage to the site’s industrial past as a tram and bus depot with a mix of complementary, attractive materials and colours inside and out.
Apartment interiors will be designed around an open-plan living ethos.
Inside, the homes will all feature Asko appliances, stone benchtops and the vast majority will have a study space.
Early interest in the development indicates buyers also appreciate its location across from Victoria University, and near public transport as well as shops and eateries.
Melbourne’s latest lockdown has stalled some plans and pricing, but work is expected to start early next year.
The Seddon Square development by ANPLUS - for herald sun real estate
The site’s history will be reflected in exposed brickwork and similar materials.
One-bedroom apartments are expected to start from $389,000, two bedrooms from $575,000 and three-bedroom offerings from $750,000.
Two-bedroom townhouses will start at $695,000 and three-bedroom options from $955,000.
RELATED: Everything’s coming up Millhouse after Live City Footscray’s latest launch
Seddon auction soars $140,000 past reserve after lockdown sale fail
Stamp duty swap to land tax could save up front, but cost long term
Video Brighton dream home has underground bar
<www.realestate.com.au/news/seddon-square-to-open-former-transdev-site-to-1000-residents-public>

26.7.21 Western Sydney Airport Metro gets green light
Planning approval having been granted by the New South Wales Government and major construction set to commence soon.
Planning approval has been received for the new 23km rail line linking St Mary’s and the Western Sydney International Airport  , with major works to start in the coming months.
The 23-kilometre driverless metro will service western Sydney and the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport, delivering major benefits for the region.
It is expected to transport up to 7,740 passengers each hour in each direction, while also taking about 110,000 vehicles off local roads every day, significantly reducing local traffic.
Community feedback has helped shape the project, including introducing measures to further reduce parking impacts on local communities and the relocation of a temporary bus interchange.
It will take just five minutes to travel from the airport to the Aerotropolis, about 15 minutes from the airport to St Marys and 20 minutes from the Aerotopolis to St Marys - where customers can connect to the rest of Sydney’s rail network.
The project will support 14,000 jobs, including 250 apprentices.
Early works started on Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport in December 2020. Major work will start in the coming months, with the tunnelling contract awarded by the end of the year and tunnel boring machines in the ground by the end of 2023.
The Australian and NSW governments are jointly delivering the 23km metro railway and six stations between St Marys and the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, including two stations at the airport.
Commonwealth Government approvals for Sydney Metro’s rail development work within the boundary of Western Sydney International Airport are expected in the coming months.
See https://www.sydneymetro.info/westernsydneyairportline
<www.sydneymetro.info/article/western-sydney-airport-metro-gets-green-light>
* Really wish we could extend from Leppington to aerotropolis to make it easier for the other half of the city
* And up to Tallawong to make it easier to access Western Sydney from up

Approval for Western Sydney Airport Metro. DAVID SEXTON July 26, 2021
Construction is set to start on the Western Sydney Airport Metro soon, a project that is expected to help ease traffic congestion in the western suburbs.
MAJOR construction is set to begin on the Western Sydney Airport Metro soon, after the New South Wales government granted approval.
Federal urban infrastructure minister Paul Fletcher said the approvals were a major step forward for the new Metro rail line.
“The Morrison government is providing a once-in-a-generation level of funding in a range of major infrastructure projects across western Sydney, to transform the region and foster the creation of Australia’s future industries,” Fletcher said.
“This includes working closely with the NSW government to deliver this new multi-billion dollar Sydney Metro line, which will provide a critical link to the new Western Sydney International (Nancy- Bird Walton) Airport and improve connectivity for local residents.”
Once operational, the new Metro is expected to transport up to 7,740 passengers each hour in each direction, while also taking about 110,000 vehicles off local roads every day.
NSW transport minister Andrew Constance said the 23-kilometre driverless metro would service western Sydney and the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport, delivering major benefits.
“This city-shaping infrastructure will deliver a vital boost to the NSW economy, with the construction of Sydney’s newest Metro rail line expected to support around 14,000 jobs, including 250 apprentices,” Constance said.
“Community feedback has helped shape the Metro project, including introducing measures to further reduce parking impacts on local communities and the relocation of a temporary bus interchange.”
NSW minister for western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the project would provide the backbone for further development of the Western Parkland City.
“It will take just five minutes to travel from the airport to the Aerotropolis, about 15 minutes from the airport to St Marys and 20 minutes from the Aerotopolis to St Marys – where customers can connect to the rest of Sydney’s rail network,” Ayres said.
Early works started on Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport in December 2020.
Commonwealth approvals for Sydney Metro’s rail development work within the boundary of Western Sydney International Airport are expected in coming months.
Sydney Metro - Western Sydney AirportWestern Sydney Airport lineWestern Sydney Airport metroWestern Sydney Metro
<www.railexpress.com.au/green-light-for-western-sydney-airport-metro>

Mon.26.7.21 Melbourne 'Herald Sun' Satellite city
Booming western suburbs in Wyndham should be transformed into a “satellite city” with Werribee as its CBD in order to deal with a population bigger than Geelong’s, a new economic blueprint says.
The bold vision, which aims to deliver 50,000 jobs, includes new business and education hubs as well as trackless trams connecting T arneit, Werribee, Aviators Field and Sayers.
With local jobs catering to those in the growing suburbs — set to house an extra 110,000 people over the next 15 years — the crippling commute from Melbourne’s west into the city would be eased and living standards improved.
Government services, medical and logistics sector facilities, and a technical university campus would be shifted to the new satellite city so it could play to its strengths, building on about $400m of current government spending that includes a new legal precinct.
Existing landmarks such as Werribee Zoo would be enhanced, while a distinctive new building akin to the Centre Pompidou in Paris or the Bilbao museum in northern Spain should be built to “establish an icon for the west”.
The blueprint was developed by economists for the West of Melbourne Economic Development Alliance.
Chairman of the group Peter Dawkins, former vice-chancellor of Victoria University, said rapid growth in the west meant it would be home to half a million people by the end of the next decade.
“The No 1 challenge for our region will be to deliver more local jobs closer to where people live,” Professor Dawkins said.
“Pre-Covid, 60 per cent of workers commuted out of the region every day for work, including more than 60,000 from Wyndham. Based on current projections, this will rise to almost 110,000 commuters from Wyndham by 2036.”
The plan is being put to state and federal governments and will spark a debate about Melbourne developing into a polycentric city rather than one that focuses on the CBD.
It is the second major push for a redevelopment of Werribee, after a private consortium approached the Andrews government to build a $3lbn Australian Education City.
After the state selected the group as a preferred bidder to develop the area, the plan was later dumped without detailed explanation.
Rather than retrofit expensive heavy or light rail to the area, WoMEDA suggests trackless trams — effectively buses with segmented lanes and fixed routes.
The corridors would interchange with heavy rail at Williams Landing, Hoppers Crossing and Tarneit stations and the future Sayers Rd station adjacent to the proposed Wyndham A-League stadium.
Long term, driverless vehicles and off-road paths for e-bikes and scooters would have priority. matt.johnston@...
EDITORIAL. PAGE 16