Philippa Orr’s Post

THE SOLUTION TO WORLD HOUSING & TRANSPORT

Forward planning, for population growth, housing demand and the infrastructure and services to support them is a difficult job (not impossible, but difficult). Firstly it's a moving target, dynamic not linear. The further out you look the higher the likelihood that your projections are off (up and / or down). Secondly, the costs are enormous. Planning for and delivering infrastructure to support growth requires money that we don't currently have for things that are likely to happen (making a poor business case). But if you don't invest in the future...when you get there (all of a sudden, at a particular point in time) we are surprised that we don't have the underlying services to support what (has seemingly just appeared) should have been evident years before. I want to bring this back to the proposed Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system that has been proposed for (Greater) Christchurch as part of the 30 year Spatial Plan. We have been talking about options for improved Public Transport in the City for as long as I can remember (and I'm 60 and have spent most of my life living here). Back in the 1970's, houses and land were acquired (North Madras Street) and houses were demolished to build a Northern Express way...but along came a new Mayor (I won't mention who) and decided that this was a bad idea and the plan was scrapped. Now the (mostly) recently completed Northern Corridor is a great transport addition to the link between Christchruch and Waimakariri...but it stops part of they way into the city and has caused more problems than its solved (Cranford Street). Today (with a significantly increased demand...and much increased price) we are still arguing over a solution. Furthermore, MRT is the backbone of the proposed drive for housing intensification along the route...without it...housing will continue to sprawl outwards. My point here is...this stuff isn't Rocket Science (difficult yes...impossible no). Plan for the future (up or slightly up) and get on with building it so that when we get to a particular point in time (say 30 years) we have the required infrastructure to support the population and housing that we knew that we were going to have.

Great news for communities from #Ashington to #Newcastle. Northumberland County Council have released a press release today confirming that Northern #rail passenger services will commence on 15 December on the new #NorthumberlandLine. #sustainablerailtravel #connectingcommunities #investment North East Chamber of Commerce

Today is the day we are finally going to get a decision on Lower Thames Crossing. After spending over 3 years advising on the project, it's going to be very interesting to see what arguments the SoS puts weight on. Importantly it's going to give an indication as to whether this government supports major road building projects, or whether it is prepared to be more radical and look for alternatives to car use. Even on National Highways' data the traffic reduction at Dartford is only going to be temporary. It is predicted and well established that building more roads simply generates new journeys. Let's hope today is the day that the government is brave, chooses not to spend almost 10 billion pounds on a new road, and instead invests in much needed rail and active transport. #ltc #lowerthamescrossing Browne Jacobson BBC News - Decision on new Thames Crossing expected on Friday - BBC News https://lnkd.in/e-Y56Rzu

Aqualand Australia submits SSDA for first North Sydney BTR: https://lnkd.in/eJRH94uk cc Jin Lin, Woods Bagot and NSW Government #btrnewsau #btr #buildtorent #planning #planningsubmitted #residential #australia #buildtorentaustralia #btraustralia #sydney #sydneybtr #sydneybuildtorent

🚨 Press Release: Cobh and Harbour Chamber Expresses Continued Frustration Over Road access 🚨 The Chamber has been actively highlighting the need for the redevelopment of the R624 for over 50 years. The recent An Bord Pleanála decision further underscores the urgent need for investment in infrastructure to support both commercial and residential development, which is crucial to our community’s growth, safety and sustainability. The current inadequate infrastructure significantly impacts any future development of the area. The R624 as the sole access road to the area needs to be upgraded to a national road and to come under the Transport Infrastructure Ireland's remit. We urgently call on public representatives and Cork County Council to prioritise this issue and work collaboratively to achieve this. The Cobh and Harbour Chamber remains committed to engaging with stakeholders on behalf of our region. The Cobh and Harbour Chamber notes with huge disappointment the impact which the recent decision by An Bord Pleanála to decline permission for the proposed port facility at Marino Point will have on the continued and future development of the Great Island and Harbour area. Bord Pleanála Case reference: PL04.312981 Planning Authority Case Reference: 206955 Image Credit: Cobh News Chambers Ireland James O'Connor TD Mark Stanton Pat Buckley Mary IND Linehan Foley David Stanton TD Eamon Ryan Darragh O'Brien TD James Lawless Peter Burke Cliona O'Halloran Liam Quaide Paschal Donohoe Jack Chambers Michael McGrath Simon Coveney Simon Harris Micheál Martin Cork County Council Port of Cork Company Ltd. Visit Cork Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail #CobhAndHarbour #CorkDocklands #HousingCrisis #InfrastructureMatters #Cobh #Cork

“We're a country that's not short of land. What we're short of is connected land. So, what high speed rail does is actually connect not only cities, but the regions in between,” our CEO Tim Parker told Sophie Walsh and Clint Stanaway on Nine's Today. The regional economic benefits of #HSR "will drive housing, it will drive local jobs”, Tim says. Newcastle to Sydney in about an hour on trains capable of travelling up to 320km/h. About 30 minutes from the Central Coast to Sydney or to Newcastle. The business case to connect Newcastle to Sydney with high speed rail will be presented to the Australian Government later this month. Interview via Nine News's Today.

PRASA finally signs rail deal with City of Cape Town: The Service Level Plan gives the City oversight over annual performance plans, station revitalisation, and the introduction of more train sets. Read https://lnkd.in/dDBWFiKe by Sandiso Phaliso

The Parks, Sydney’s Parkland Councils was pleased to see many of its recommendations and those of its member Councils recognised and adopted in the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into “Current and Future Transport Needs in Western Sydney.”   This important Report confirmed what we have been saying for years and we look forward to the Government now taking action on its Findings and Recommendations.   We are heartened to see that among the 20 recommendations of the report, our continued calls for implementation of the City Deal commitments of a North-South rail line from St Marys through to Macarthur, with a connection to Leppington, and for a comprehensive rapid bus system were recognised as needing prioritisation. The evidence provided to the Inquiry by our Mayoral Forum Chair, Dr George Greiss and Chair of our General Managers Committee, Mr Ben Taylor, as well as many other Mayors and General Managers of our eight member councils demonstrates the depth of knowledge and understanding of the key issues that we have and we were encouraged to see this identified in Finding 2: “Local councils are experts in the public transport needs of their communities..” As the report highlighted there can be no doubt that the people of our region deserve better and a more equitable provision of public transport. We remain hopeful that this report will help the Government to take the necessary steps to achieve this. Stevie Barnett

BRTA wants political and council support as well as that of the public. These projects are not just a ‘local’ matter, they have regional significance. Northampton Castle Station needs more tracks for through freight and platform access for more trains to call at Northampton. Say a 10-year time-frame, it needs planning now as per any additional satellite stations like North of Northampton and Roade Parkway for example. Latter has a new A508 bypass, but no rail access, despite being at the gateway to the 2 lines northwards merging going southwards! Milton Keynes is not a 10-minute drive, Northampton a costly, time-consuming drive to come south by rail! Development is going in without these infrastructures and the result is unsustainability on any front from air quality, public health, and socio-economic performance. These rail links would sustainably help! https://lnkd.in/exz6itXr #northampton #rail #railways #trains #stations #transport #infrastructure #design #capacity #energy #power #authority #permissions #public #meeting #discourse