John Anderson’s Post

The Meridian Rock Nestled in the pathway within Meridian Port Services Ltd (MPS), stands a symbolic rock marking the Greenwich Meridian—the world’s prime meridian for both longitude and time. Established by international agreement in 1884, the Greenwich Meridian represents zero degrees longitude, forming the basis for global navigation and timekeeping. This prime meridian line, running from the North to the South Pole, divides the Eastern Hemisphere from the Western. At MPS Container Terminal, the meridian line (0°00'00.00"E/W) crosses our terminal, entering from the northern boundary (5°37'35.15"N) and extending to the coastline (5°37'29.75"N), where it reaches one of the closest points on Earth to the “Center of the World,” where the Greenwich Meridian (zero degrees longitude) intersects with the Equator (zero degrees latitude). Inspiration from the CEO of MPS: “At Meridian Port Services Ltd, EAST MEETS WEST.” https://lnkd.in/e-V4iByb

In a word - Inspiring! This video captures the essence of Berkadia...Who we are, what we do and how we prioritize people.

Another day, another discussion on strategic planning. No matter who the audience is, there is so much consensus around the need for this and for it to be mandated by the Government. It's also fantastic to see the conversation move onto 'how and what' now - 2025 will be 15 years since strategic planning was abolished and a year to celebrate its welcome return! #strategicplanningisback

Yesterday I attended a thought-provoking event; a heritage skills forum organised by Grosvenor's Eaton Estate, discussing heritage skills training in the Northwest, with presentations by Chester Cathedral, Grosvenor Estates, Historic England, CITB, CWaC and Turner Townsend. The idea was to engage local heritage businesses and client organisations in discussing their needs and aspirations. There is a clear need to meet a growing skills shortage, but it is also clear that there needs to be a top-down rethink of policy, procurement, funding etc., and some-joined up thinking about retrofit.

First of the Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plans out for feedback... It was fantastic to see The Hon. Jenny Aitchison MP release the draft Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plans for the Hunter and the South East and Tablelands this week. Developing these plans has been a massive effort and has been a result of a lot of listening and understanding community priorities. Each Draft Plan offers a vision for transport in its region and a list of proposed initiatives we think will enable us to deliver that vision. The Draft Plans are now available to the public for feedback. Public exhibition will run until 28 February 2025. You can view the Draft Plans and provide feedback at https://lnkd.in/g35EsJ5q I would also like to acknowledge the huge amount of work and the exemplar model of collaboration that was required to get us to this point. For the past 12 months, Transport has been listening to community and stakeholders, working across government and internally to deliver Plans to meet the diverse and changing needs of regional NSW. Special thanks to Jennifer Adam @pete marler, Ben Konetschnik Amanda Jarman Amanda French Deborah Swan Henning Bracker Ahsan H. Mel Dial, Angela Walsh Tiffany Jeffery, Vicky Sisson Anna Zycki Alexandra Lyle Linda Zhang, Rochelle Ahio, Madelaine Veronese Sarah N. Tina Landridge, Denver D'Souza Alcântara Tiffany Saputra Cassandra Ffrench Brendon James Adam Gray Bobbie Brodie, Michael Heinrichs Elizabeth O'Connor, Kieren Lawson Rose Badger Adam Smith Dan Dunstan, Vanessa Wilson, Bailee Dean, Kristy Hartwig, Vinnie Powell, Jonathan Chan, Sarah Christensen, Gregory Hanton, Craig O'Neill Ariel Mather Palmese Angela Carroll Matthew McKibbin Andrew Fell-Marston Anthony Hayes Trudi Mares Josh Murray Alice Thompson Elizabeth York The real beauty of this process is that these plans are out for review and feedback. They are drafts and we are really keen to keep the conversation going and see what the communities think. #regionalNSW #regionaltransportplanning #strategicregionalintegratedtransportplans #sritps #tfnsw #transport #transportsolutions #publictransport #helpinghousinghappen #transportplanning

🚉 Plans for a new rail station in Wigan are on track, after getting over 90% public consultation support for the proposals earlier this year. Golborne Station could be part of the Bee Network by 2027 – and one of Greater Manchester’s first new rail stations in over 20 years. It is also a key step in the city-region's ambitions to bring local rail into the Bee Network by 2030, with eight lines joining by 2028. The £32m plans also include local area improvements and better walking and cycling links, making it easier to get around and supporting jobs and economic growth. A planning application is now in with Wigan Council, and we’ll use consultation feedback to help shape the final business case to government. Read the latest news: https://bit.ly/3OhvDnq

This is of course a big question for a short panel discussion but we hope to bring you some insights into the main issues. I look forward to meeting you!

Big questions and plenty to debate at the The Housing Forum annual Conference on 22 Oct. #BuildingSafety #BuildingSafetyAct #HighRiseBuilding #BlockManagement #HighRiskBuilding #THFNationalConference2024

Congratulations to Transport for NSW on delivering a robust draft Hunter Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan. Perhaps we could simplify the name to the Hunter Transport Plan, which I suspect we will all call it as the current name is a mouthful. Like the Hunter Regional Plan 2041, it would benefit from explicitly using the term 15-minute neighbourhoods, especially given the draft plan’s strong focus on walkable communities, local trip alternatives, and reducing car dependency. The draft plan has a focus on the concept, without using the term. The plan also aligns well with the Hunter Regional Plan 2041 by acknowledging the transformative scale of change in Regionally Significant Growth Areas like Anambah to Branxton, North West Lake Macquarie, and Morisset. These areas are crucial to sustainably growing the Hunter to well beyond 1 million residents. The data in the plan highlights the challenges and opportunities for improving public transport accessibility. The public transport accessibility levels in the Hunter are truly sobering. Anyone who has caught Bus 11, which connects Newcastle City, the University of Newcastle, John Hunter Hospital, and Charlestown, wouldn’t be surprised it recorded 83,000 trips in March - more than any rail station except Newcastle Interchange. Even Bus 14, running between Swansea Heads and Newcastle, outperformed almost all rail stations. Could these high-performing routes become a foundation for Bus-Oriented Development? Or even guide future long-term light rail expansions beyond Broadmeadow?

Exciting news for #GreenvilleSC! The City Council’s approval of a special district to revitalize Laurens Road is a significant step toward sustainable urban planning and economic growth. Transforming a blighted area into a vibrant, thriving corridor demonstrates how thoughtful real estate development can positively impact the community. Projects like this not only enhance the aesthetic and functionality of our neighborhoods but also drive local business growth, attract new investments, and empower residents. As our city grows, we must consider forward-thinking solutions like rail systems, bike-friendly streets, and pedestrian-focused urban designs to reduce car dependency and promote sustainability. A modern rail network could connect neighborhoods, businesses, and residents seamlessly, reducing traffic congestion and supporting economic mobility. This project is a testament to what happens when cities embrace visionary urban planning for a more sustainable and connected future. Looking forward to seeing this transformation come to life! #EconomicGrowth #UrbanPlanning #CommunityDevelopment #Sustainability #RealEstateDevelopment #LocalImpact #YeahThatGreenville #GreenvilleSC