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Subject: Wed.15.6.22 daily digest

Roderick

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Wed.15.6.22 Metro Twitter [lapsed]
Flinders St: still with a lane closed for tunnel works? [reopened by July?  Closed again by Nov.]
Campbell Arcade (Flinders St station) is closed until 2024. The exit from the Myki gates within the subway will  also be closed. No pedestrian access between the arcade & Flinders St. Use Elizabeth & Swanston St entry/exits. Platform  interchange via that subway will be available until mid 2022.
Mernda line: Trains will run to an altered timetable until Sep 2022 (works).  Trains operate on a single track Thornbury - Regent, and trains will not stop at Bell or Preston.  Shuttle buses operate Thornbury - Bell - Preston - Regent - Reservoir. No access to station facilities during this time.
Buses replace trains Sunshine - Sunbury until the last train of Wed 29 Jun (works).
Werribee/Williamstown lines: Buses replace trains North Melbourne - Newport/Williamstown from 20.30 until the last train (works). 

Secret plans to sell, rezone and develop land across Sydney railways.  Matt O'Sullivan and Adele Ferguson June 15, 2022  153 comments [the first panel gives the flavour]
Selling or redeveloping land across Sydney’s rail network and morphing into a big property developer to deliver more than $40 billion in government windfalls are part of a secret plan by the state’s scandal-ridden rail corporation.
The ambitious plan, outlined in a confidential strategy obtained by the Herald, includes new hotels and the rezoning of more than 50 sites near train stations in Sydney suburbs for high-density developments.
The plans for a large area in and around Central Station include 100,000 square metres of hotels, apartments or student accommodation.CREDIT:STEVEN SIEWERT
The strategy reveals land at Wolli Creek, Hurstville and Redfern are on a hit-list of sites the Transport Asset Holding Entity (TAHE) plans to sell to “raise funds for future development”.
Accelerating work on an $11.6 billion development of 24 hectares of government-owned land in and around Central Station, as well as a further 10 hectares at Redfern and North Eveleigh, are outlined as strategic priorities over the next three years. Parramatta, Granville, Newtown, Dundas and Glendale are among other sites eyed for development in the longer term.
The plans for Central include 100,000 square metres of hotels, apartments or student accommodation, and more than 40,000 square metres of shops, restaurants, cafés and bars.
TAHE, which controls billions of dollars worth of the state’s rail assets including trains, stations and rail tracks, has been the subject of intense scrutiny and criticism since a Herald investigation last year revealed it had been set up to artificially inflate the NSW budget.
Since then, the government has been forced to write down the value of TAHE by $20 billion and inject billions of dollars into the rail corporation to placate the Auditor-General after delays in signing off the state’s accounts.
The 10-year business plan, which was completed in February, proposes that TAHE diversifies and becomes a property developer and owner of assets including hotels and food courts.
TAHE estimates it could turn over $1.9 billion a year in revenue if it develops and leases property. Alternatively, it could generate $40 billion if it develops and sells “transport assets”.
“Potential property development can realise significant value windfalls for government,” the business plan states.
Dozens of sites across Sydney’s rail network are eyed for sale, rezoning or development. CREDIT:STEVEN SIEWERT
Shadow treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the only reason the government was scheming to turn TAHE into a giant property developer was to plug a multibillion-dollar hole it was burning in the budget.
“If TAHE wasn’t a financial disaster, it wouldn’t have to auction $40 billion of the public’s transport assets,” he said. “Secretly plotting to build a hotel above Central Station shouldn’t be TAHE’s core business. Its job is to manage our railways safely.”
A Treasury spokesperson said both Treasurer Matt Kean and Finance Minister Damien Tudehope had endorsed TAHE’s 2021-22 statement of corporate intent, which summarised its planning and business strategy.
A TAHE spokesperson said it had prepared a property strategy focused on safety and sustainability to deliver long-term, low-risk commercial return.
“This is not unusual for similar state-owned corporations and infrastructure agencies across the world and is in line with standard business practice.
“One of our five legislated aims is to deliver positive commercial outcomes for NSW taxpayers. As a result, the TAHE board has explored a range of options across our portfolio.”
TAHE denied it had plans to operate hotels and said there was no intention of increasing rent for tenants.
An insider, who requested anonymity, said the business plan revealed a mad scramble to make TAHE stack up. “What we are seeing outlined in this document are increasingly outlandish strategies to effectively turn lead into gold,” the insider said. “But it’s also high risk.”
TAHE’s business plan forecasts a “revenue uplift” by increasing retail spaces and “improving tenant selection”.
It outlines the potential for a $610 million real estate redevelopment of a precinct in and around Parramatta station, which it estimates has a “gross realisation of $1.1 billion”.
The plan cites a “massive shortage of supply” in Parramatta, partly due to the government moving more offices there. However, it lists among the risks relocating a bus layover and a “potentially complex station integration”.
A similar development at Hurstville is estimated at $200 million.
The business plan says the “optimal model” for TAHE should be to “engage and partner with developers to de-risk delivery and capitalise returns”.
RELATED ARTICLE Premier Gladys Berejiklian inspects the first of two metro railway tunnels deep under Sydney Harbour. How financial engineering turned into a train wreck for NSW government
<www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/secret-plans-to-sell-rezone-and-develop-land-across-sydney-railways-20220614-p5atiw.html>
* Obvious and appropriate use of the state's power to impose zonings that create density around train lines and produce enhanced valuations accordingly. Hard to see any downside at all. Of course they could bugger it up, as the governments critics suggest, so perhaps creating the zoning and selling DA ready parcels to the private sector might reduce that likelihood. There would be plenty of private capital available - and "affordable" housing can be a condition of compliance.
* selling air space over railway stations is a very sensible approach. Precinct activation seems like a very appropriate direction to make the most of the infrastructure. We should be doing more of this sort of thing and a lot less of covering the outer suburbs with dense urban sprawl that will become a heat island with no space for trees. If they want 8 million people in Sydney we have to go up not out.
* “ An insider, who requested anonymity, said the business plan revealed a mad scramble to make TAHE stack up” Don’t be surprised if we see some ‘mad scramble’ around the issues at Luna Park. This has become a very hot topic in the North Shore electorate. A typical case of a government not listening to their constituents.
* Using the airspace above railways is a great idea. On public transport, lots of underutilised land, and the ability to add housing, shops and offices along major corridors. It's hard to see why we shouldn't do it!
* Too bad when they find in the future that the land was actually required for improvements in the rail system. Typical Liberals flogging public property to cover their financial incompetence.
* Of note the Metro corridor from Sydenham to Bankstown is not mentioned . Different mob I guess but same ideas.
* “engage and partner with developers to de-risk delivery and capitalise returns”. Oh dear, I hope this exercise doesn't turn out like the toll roads, just a lovely cash cow for the developers who just ramp up the tolls when they want.
* Two different things at play here. The first is the questionable nature of the new rail entity. It has nothing to do with the second, which is the long-term plan to develop land next to and over railway stations and lines in Sydney. It has been standing policy for about 30 years, pursued by all types of governments, good and bad, left and right. It's best practice. It makes sense as development should be concentrated near transport nodes for maximum social benefit and transport economic utility. This has been a long-standing planning policy in Sydney since 1948. The pursuit of it paused briefly after successive safety reviews found that over-track development at places like Hurstville, North Sydney (the old Travelodge) and City of Sydney's Goulburn Street carpark, represented major safety risks because the way they had been built would not withstand derailments. None of these buildings' foundations have been replaced since, instead speed restrictions applied liberally, but better construction methods exist and the plan continues to make the most sense. There is nothing secret about this plan or the many individual projects. But it has nothing to do with the new rail entity, as questionable as that entity is.
* I guess as how we are $120 Billion in debt, not counting the new budget promises of $21 Billion, it has to be paid for somehow. I know, we can just prop up private industries bottom line ie Transurban, by paying users rebates of about 1/2 a Billion a year.
* What about social housing instead of everything being commercial?
* What a great idea. Many of these sites are derelict. But some clear rules should be put in place - there must be social housing, there must be parkland, and most of the profits should be captured by the State Government. Maybe too big an ask for the current government who mainly operate to enrich developers and do secret deals which are not subject to public scrutiny. Maybe if we change the government it would work!
* Why don’t they make some of this social and low income housing.
* I will support TOD development which will give us better trainlines. However please do not have secret sales.
* Woollahra Station owned by NSW Department of Lands not on the list for proposed sale of their air space and development? Vacant, sitting idle and awaiting an opening and interest from developers. Now that's a great idea.
* I wish them well. Already they have managed to get rid of all the food outlets and paper shops at Central on the Grand and South concourses and most of the approaches. This also seems to be happening with suburban station "upgrades". They don't want passengers enjoying their train rides? Guess it cuts down on littering?
* Smoke and mirrors
* This sounds like the Hong Kong MTR corporation strategy of 'value capture'. A shopping mall above every station. etc. The idea has been swirling around for years
* This is a great plant, this is what they do in Hong Kong. It's near impossible for public transport to breakeven, so this is a great way to diversify and generate revenue streams to subsidise public transport.
* Can State Rail stick to running a efficient Public Train system and not some hair brained idea to become a developer and run businesses and exposing Tax payers to billions in a losses
* This has been an obvious opportunity for 30 years. I don’t understand why it has taken so long to put this forward. I have lost count of the number of times this has been discussed with family and friends at weekend BBQs. Please also include parking for 2000-3000 cars above each train station.
* This has all the ingredients of a disaster for the public and a windfall for the private sector. Just like the Northern Beaches Hospital.
"The NSW government should shun public-private partnerships for all future public hospital builds, a parliamentary inquiry into Sydney's beleaguered Northern Beaches Hospital has recommended. But the NSW health minister says he won't rule out other public-private partnership agreements in the longer term." <www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6652800/northern-beaches-hospital-model-slammed>
"The true cost to taxpayers of the new privatised Northern Beaches Hospital has been revealed as $2.14 billion, more than twice the $1 billion figure publicised by health minister Jillian Skinner before the March election.
The NSW government is also accused of breaking transparency laws by suppressing the figure until after the poll and has been criticised for keeping secret key details of the landmark public-private partnership." <www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/revealed-the-real-2-billion-cost-of-privatised-northern-beaches-hospital-20150501-1mxgqd.html>
* But no mention of affordable housing from a Govt calling for more.
* It makes sense to locate medium to high density development adjacent to major transport hubs The Westmead transport precinct only 3 km from Parramatta station is another area highly suited to increased development reducing reliance on motor vehicles and increase housing supply for Westmead and Parramatta workers
* What are all the train buffs going to do when everything is hidden by buildings and urban sprawl? They won't be able to see their favourite steam engines puff away freely..... devastating.
* Generally, the strategy seems sound. Housing and shops near train stations and more money to build and run infrastructure.
* “generally, the strategy seems sound”. Of course, it is, what is not revealed could be the potential problem.
* Selling an asset is not managing an asset. Artificially supporting a bottom line through selling an asset is not managing portfolio costs. This is what financial mismanagement looks like.
* What about the additional infrastructure to support all this development?
* Great question but when is that ever a consideration. More people in the same space with no extra anything.....
* Selling off government under utilised land is no problem. Using the funds just to mitigate your level of debt (caused by mismanagement) and to bank roll your re election IS!
* Makes absolute PERFECT sense to put people and amenities over transport links. NIMBYs are always complaining "not in my backyard" well this isn't in anyone's backyard. Its over and adjacent to public transport corridors. There should be high density living and services within a 500m radius of EVERY train station (hello New York, London and just about every other major city around the world) . If the government (we) get billions out of the deals, then good for us.
* Narrow, limited view. I agree it could make sense if all the other implications are considered. For example where is the parkland and other ammenities needed. Where is the planning for schools needed for the increased population. OK so we just stick a couple of extra demountables in the nearest school. Obviously there is much more than just selling off the air space above railway stations. Town planning is already a disaster. Take for example the acres and acres of new developments where every square inch of the block is covered by the dwelling. The dwellings with dark roofs to act as a heat sink. No trees, no public recreational space. The problem is spelt out in the last sentence, “….get billions.” I am not that trusting of the integrity of local government or state governments.
* Not against this in general - many stations now have overhead development which seems to work fine. However, strongly object to losing control over land at Redfern and Central - this is really valuable and unique - who knows what public use will be found for it in future years. I imagine at one stage people thought Carriageworks was wasted land ready to be sold off - and look at it now.
* The real problem I have with this, is Government selling public good assets that create revenue streams, examples Toll roads, electricity, Airports etc. Government claims to want to be more business like, but they sell the assets that generate revenue. When Business does that they replace the revenue scheme with another revenue scheme, Government does not do that. Fundamentally this neo-liberalism thing is a ponzi scheme sold by rent seekers to make a motza to the detriment of most other taxpayers. Really no different to Russian Oligarchs accept in scale. The Airport (federal), toll roads, and electricity are shining examples of tax payers being ripped of every single day by governments meant to serve us, not mates. The big take home here is despite selling every revenue stream they can think of, Government still run out of money anyway.
* Here we go again. It's not like this is the first time. New ignorant Govt entity discovers land > Attempts to sell > Buyers find site heavily contaminated and restricted by heritage orders > Buyers pull out > nothing happens. We've been the caretaker tenants of North Evelegh for over 20 years and have seen it happen a dozen times so far. There's no reason to think this time it'll be different.
* The ridiculous irony is that these rail reserves may be needed in the future. It is called redundancy. Our failure to have any built in redundancy in government infrastructure and utilities including the power grid that has been privatised over the last 15 years is why we are in the grip of a power shortage with private operators not having to be funded to bring back on line plant they have mothballed. So much for competent legislation, regulation and government. I give it a big F for fail.
* Over a decade ago I recall listening to an overseas expert architect & urban planner on the radio.
He was gobsmacked that’s authorities were allowing major residential developments just metres from main roads & railways.
As he pointed out, apart from the horrible urban environment this creates, it basically removes all future opportunities for doing things like adding light rail, bike lanes etc.
Reality is it’s typical of our governments, at all levels, having zero vision, caving to greed and pandering to developers.

Secret report reveals controversial NSW rail corporation told to ‘reframe’ its battered image.  Matt O'Sullivan and Adele Ferguson June 15, 2022
The same PR company that advised the country’s big banks on how to repair their battered image after a string of scandals has recommended the state’s controversial rail corporation rebrand and change its name.
Internal documents show the government-controlled Transport Asset Holding Entity (TAHE) also plans to spend $34.5 million on consultants over four years. The NSW government has previously been under fire for spending millions of dollars on consultants to advise on TAHE.
A confidential report by PR firm SEC Newgate shows it has been advising TAHE on ways to “reframe” its reputation after “consistent negative media and political attention” last year.
The Transport Asset Holding Entity controls billions of dollars’ worth of the state’s rail assets including trains and stations.CREDIT:STEVEN SIEWERT
It followed a Herald investigation that revealed the government set up the corporation in 2015 to artificially boost the NSW budget by billions of dollars by shifting rail expenses into a shell entity.
The investigation triggered a parliamentary inquiry and prompted former auditor-general Tony Harris to call TAHE a “vehicle of deception”.
The government was forced to write down the value of TAHE by $20 billion and inject billions of dollars into the rail corporation late last year.
SEC Newgate was advising the entity to “perform strongly” in potentially “hostile public set pieces” including the parliamentary inquiry, the release of TAHE’s annual report and budget estimate hearings.
“Shifting public perceptions in this difficult public affairs environment will be challenging and will require focus and consistency over the three-year period of the strategy – and beyond,” SEC Newgate’s report says.
The parliamentary inquiry recommended in April this year that TAHE be dismantled due to the risks it poses to the state budget and the safety of the railways.
In the strategic report obtained by the Herald, SEC Newgate urges TAHE to consider renaming itself once it has “established its corporate narrative” by next year and “enough time” has passed since the parliamentary inquiry.
“SEC Newgate believes this is an appropriate timing for TAHE to consider renaming and refreshing its brand identity – once it has a more established track record and is freer from allegations of ‘spin over substance’,” says its report, which was completed in December.
The PR firm recommended TAHE develop a “compelling narrative” and “thought leadership” program. This would include TAHE chief executive Benedicte Colin aiming to “complete two keynote addresses, an opinion piece and/or an exclusive media interview” this year.
It listed a series of targets for management including two “proactive” media stories and four LinkedIn posts each month, and hosting two “significant” project-related events that would include key stakeholders such as the NSW Premier and the media this year.
Other recommendations include priority CEO meetings and a list of specific journalists to target, ranging from those at The Australian Financial Review, The Australian and this masthead to 2GB, the ABC and 2DAY FM.
To “demonstrate community value”, SEC Newgate also outlined a program that provides access to TAHE’s assets for community use. “For example, community street art competitions … and a tidy stations award,” the report states.
NSW shadow treasurer Daniel Mookhey.CREDIT:MICHAEL QUELCH
Shadow treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the government had spent a fortune hiring spin doctors to “cover up their mistakes”.
“TAHE wouldn’t need a battalion of highly paid PR flacks if it wasn’t burning a hole in the state’s finances,” he said.
A TAHE spokeswoman said the corporation “periodically” used consultants for project-specific advice and expertise. “TAHE operates with a lean team which means at times, external expertise is required to be brought in,” she said.
She said there were no plans to change TAHE’s name.
In 2017, consultants from what was then Newgate advised the country’s banks on ways to restore their image and stave off a royal commission after a string of scandals including financial planning ripoffs and dud life insurance policies. Later that year a royal commission was called.
SEC Newgate declined to comment.
RELATED ARTICLE Trains Secret plans to sell, rezone and develop land across Sydney railways
<www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/secret-report-reveals-controversial-nsw-rail-corporation-told-to-reframe-its-battered-image-20220615-p5atva.html>
* I have no concern about the Liberal Party spending millions to shore up the image of their latest disaster. They created the mess so it's only right that they should pay to fix it...isn't it...what?...you say they are going to do this as a cost to government...to spend our money? Are they really that deaf to reason?
* The brief is to find a way for the corporation to operate with a positive cash flow without government injections of cash, and to perform its maintenance obligations that are legislated. You do not need $34m in consultants for the answer. Because it can't.
* We pay for consultants everywhere to hide the truth.  Please check the amount of money Strata Scheme Owners pay  them. Also the government wants car chargers in the buildings instead of providing them on a safer manner or better provide a good Public Transport System. "According to Google:Lithium batteries are generally safe and unlikely to fail, but only so long as there are no defects and the batteries are not damaged. When lithium batteries fail to operate safely or are damaged, they may present a fire and/or explosion hazard." I believe that the NSW government instead of preventing a catastrophe wants to react to them.
* The problem is, like the federal LNP ,the NSW government thinks rebranding will fix the waste and failures that are a function of an agenda that is focused on political smoke and mirrors rather than performance and best practice. No amount of rebranding can change the fact that changing the lipstick colour on the pig doesn't fix the billions that have been wasted for no public value benefit and potential increase in safety concerns and it also takes us all for mugs. As a result public trust has been obliterated by endless spin and nonsense.
* It doesn't need a PR makeover. It needs to be disbanded.
* By what right does a government agency need a PR campaign? Tahe was formed as a financial engineering trick to hide government debt. Tahe has no public interface. Are we paying for the image of TAHE or the image of the government which created it.
* What a waste!, I’ve never even herd of this mob..good or bad.
* $34 million on consultants...that's the work you employ staff for (and it would cost a lot less).
* Another real life episode of Utopia, how much did this cost them to recommend 4 LinkedIn posts per month as part of the report? Hilarious if it were not out money being wasted.
* How much did TAHE pay for this PR advice? Not that much I hope because beneath the bloated language It's just media relations 101.
* That is $34 million of our money being spent to make a Perrottet love child more socially acceptable. What is the benefit to the public for this (mis)use of our money?
* Following on from WestCon lets have TrainsCon.
* What a farce. Got a pig? just add lipstick.
* What? We have a disaster. Let's not fix it, let's bring in the spin doctors! Typical LNP thinking.
* "Image"? What about reputation?
* A bit of paint will not disguise a pig.
* TAHE is a disaster. An attempt by government to mislead the people about state finances has turned into a bleeding sore. Now “$34.5million” is to be wasted on consultants to convince us that things are not as bad as they are. With this kind of thinking no wonder we can’t fund hospitals, ambulances or afford to pay enough to attract and retain nurses and teachers.
* All the consultancies engaged by NSW Government bodies are just passengers and don't provide any real value add. I can't believe the entire structure of NSW bodies are saturated with consultants who just spin wheels all day long!
* A royal commission or independent investigation will be more cost-effective and illuminating than spin to counteract spin.
* Another waste of our money on consultants.
* Taxpayers forked out half a million dollars to tell TAHE to spin and market to us, to change its name and run a street art competition???? Is this LNP Government for real? Can’t wait for those taxpayers who are fed up with the waste and the rorts to boot them out so they can lick their wounds alongside their Federal buddies.
* Shameful waste of money will be improved by further shameful waste of money. Sounds like how we managed to turn i-care into an ongoing shameful waste of money. Only consistent link is our current Premier.
* Another LNP example of excelling in financial management. We, the voters of NSW, cannot afford to keep paying this lot to govern.
* what a joke , what will a name change do ? just get the trains to run consistently on time.
* $34.5 Million in consultants MUST EQUAL same savings in management redundancies.
* you have to pay a consultant to tell you to change the name of your firm to fix your reputation? What does the CEO do?
* I thought that TAHE's customer was another government business, which had no option but to use its services and infrastructure? If so, why does TAHE need PR consultants? Or is the PR really to benefit the current NSW government in the lead up to an election?
* It isn't TAHE's image that needs rescuing, it's the LNP government's led by Perrottet. TAHE, iCare, Covid, new inter-urban train sets still
not in use 2 years after arrival, new Ferries that cannot run at night or across the heads in a storm, a failing education system, a failing health system, and a failed construction regulation system. But developers are doing well. With this abysmal record, Perrottet want to create a new tax on our homes as well.
* "rebrand and change its name". yeah sure, works every time except when it doesn't, a bit like our trains. how many other words can the NSW LNP government make out of "tax rort"?
* The LNP and their consultancy mates..here there and everywhere!
* What a joke. Election now please.
* How about spending $34.5 million on a couple of proper Manly ferries to replace the Freshwaters and eliminate the pathetic Emerald class before there is a mass drowning.

Wed.15.6.22 Melbourne 'Herald Sun'. Letters.
* On right bike path RORY Costelloe’s  suggestion of making some of the CBD’s little streets shared roads highlights the dearth of west to east bike paths (“A few repairs and more will get on their (e) bike”, Opinion, 14/6). Vienna has employed that solution for years.
He makes other valid points. A 26km/h speed limit on e-bikes clogs up commuter bike lanes and frustrates leg-powered cyclists and motorists alike.
The engineers and planners need to work at eliminating conflict points, such as Queensbridge St and City Rd, and making off-road bike path “locator” signage more visible.
* Road equality.  THE answers to Rory Costelloe’s cycling demands, are quite simple? Perhaps cyclists could start paying for them? Because currently, bike riders pay nothing but want everything.
Yet the road rules are often ignored and they are oblivious to anything behind them. Red light cameras mean nothing and be it pedestrians or motorists, we just get in the way. With no registration or insurance costs and no fuel excise payments, they demand equality but don’t want to pay for it.
So could we start with a rear-vision mirror and some insurance — for when it is “your fault”?
Should we try single lane cycling, and not two or three in the middle of the road? And then an annual fee — for true equality?