Category Archives: Regions

Labor’s High Speed Rail proposal – too far, or not far enough?

Posted on 2 January, 2022 by Alex

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese today announced that Labor would “make fast rail connections between Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle a reality” and establish a High-Speed Rail Authority if it wins government in next year’s federal election. Unfortunately, it’s hard … Continue reading →

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Why are motorways good but fast trains bad for regional cities?

Posted on 22 September, 2019 by Alex

While I was overseas a few months ago in Tbilisi (among other things looking at the city’s transport systems) I read The Conversation article by Todd Denham and Jago Dodson – Regional cities beware – fast rail might lead to … Continue reading →

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New NSW regional train fleet – a solid choice or missed opportunity?

Posted on 16 February, 2019 by Alex

In signing a $1.26 billion contract with the Momentum Trains consortium for a new regional train fleet to be operated by NSW TrainLink the NSW Government seems to have learnt a few things from its chastening experience in selecting Hyundai … Continue reading →

Posted in Fast Rail, Public Transport, Rail, Regions, Transport | Tagged , , , , | 15 Comments

NSW High-Speed Rail: following Victoria’s example?

Posted on 17 December, 2018 by Alex

The announcement by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian that the NSW government “would start work on a fast rail network in the next term of government” has already been criticised as being a repeat reading from a very hackneyed script. True to form, the announcement … Continue reading →

Posted in Infrastructure, Population, Public Transport, Regions, Sydney metro area, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Strategic Week (no. 17, Friday 15 April 2016) – the week in governance, planning, infrastructure and transport

Posted on 18 April, 2016 by Alex

Top of the Week Lagging jobs growth in Western Sydney could result in transport chaos for the whole of Sydney By 2036 Sydney’s economy “will be strangled by the daily congestion and expense involved in moving people to their places … Continue reading →

Posted in Governance, Infrastructure, Local Government, Planning, Public Transport, Regions, Sydney metro area, The Strategic Week, Transport, Western Sydney | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Strategic Week (no. 15, Friday 1 April 2016) – the week in governance, planning, infrastructure and transport

Posted on 2 April, 2016 by Alex

Top of the Week NSW council mergers: mayors and councillors likely to be dismissed and made to apply for interim positions on merged councils … The NSW Minister for Local Government Paul Toole has revealed that merged councils are likely … Continue reading →

Posted in Governance, Growth, Infrastructure, Planning, Population, Public Transport, Regions, Statistics, Sydney metro area, The Strategic Week, Transport, Western Sydney | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Strategic Week (no. 7, Thursday 4 February 2016) – the week in governance, planning, infrastructure and transport

Posted on 4 February, 2016 by Alex

Governance Accusations and money fly in NSW council merger fight … The consultation process for NSW local government amalgamations has been described as a “dog’s breakfast” and a “farce” by a number of local government leaders, according to media reports. … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Governance, Infrastructure, Local Government, Planning, Public Transport, Regions, ROCs, Sydney metro area, The Strategic Week, Transport, Western Sydney | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Strategic Week (no. 6, Friday 29 January 2016) – the week in governance, planning, infrastructure and transport

Posted on 29 January, 2016 by Alex

Governance GSC embarks on Sydney’s “great new experiment” in planning – but will it survive the roads lobby? The Greater Sydney Commission (GSC) officially started work on 27 January 2016. The Sydney Morning Herald in an editorial described the GSC as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural Development, Environment, Governance, Growth, Infrastructure, Local Government, Planning, Public Transport, Regions, ROCs, Sydney metro area, The Strategic Week, Transport, Western Sydney | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Strategic Week (no. 3, Friday 18 December 2015) – the week in governance, planning, infrastructure and transport

Posted on 18 December, 2015 by Alex

Introduction Because of today’s announcement of the NSW local government mergers this edition of “The Strategic Week” is being released a day later than usual and the lead item on the mergers is also longer than normal. There is also … Continue reading →

Posted in Governance, Growth, Infrastructure, Local Government, Planning, Public Transport, Regions, ROCs, Sydney metro area, Transport, Western Sydney | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Local Government Growing Regional Australia report launched

Posted on 26 March, 2015 by Alex

The Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government (ACELG) and Regional Capitals Australia (RCA) have just launched a report I co-authored with Dr Robyn Morris and Lucinda Molloy on local government’s role in building strong and sustainable regional capitals and regions. The report, Local … Continue reading →

Posted in Governance, Growth, Local Government, Regions | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment