NSW Conservative State Government Tunnels Ahead

While our National Government Continues to Dither

And we wonder why Auckland can often been seeing as struggling to compete with Sydney when you have this (from the Brisbane Times):

NSW government’s electricity privatisation gets second harbour rail crossing under way

June 4, 2015 – 2:56PM Melanie Kembrey

Community consultation has started on Sydney’s second harbour rail crossing with Premier Mike Baird saying the mammoth project is “well and truly under way” after the partial privatisation of the state’s electricity network was given the green light.

The crossing would see a new line extend under the harbour and city, connecting to the existing rail system at Chatswood on the northern side and Sydenham on the southern, where trains will then connect to an upgraded Bankstown Line.

“Last night we got the green light to commence the transaction. The great news about that is that it is a green light on every infrastructure project that we committed to in the lead up to the election,” Mr Baird said at a press conference on Thursday morning.

“As of last night, the button has been pushed. It is green light, good to go.”

The rail line, slated to cost between $9.5 billion and $11 billion, is part of $20 billion of infrastructure projects that Mr Baird promised to fund on the condition that the state’s poles and wires were leased.

….

Mr Baird said three businesses would be leased over the next 18 to 24 months but the government would be “cracking on” with building the promised infrastructure while negotiations were under way.

……

It has two main components: Sydney Metro Northwest (the 36km north west rail link) and the Sydney Metro City and Southwest (the new 30-kilometre line from the end of the north west rail link, under the harbour, through the city and to Bankstown).

The rapid transit network will use single-deck trains operating as a “turn up and go” service and aims to provide capacity for up to 30 trains per hour in each direction, allowing 60 per cent more trains in peak periods across the network.

…

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Andrew Constance said the crossing was a “game changer” but conceded Sydney residents would “have to be patient” while  construction caused disruptions.

The government has previously announced new stations will be built at Central, Pitt Street, Martin Place, St Leonards-Crows Nest and Victoria Cross, near North Sydney. Stations at the Artarmon industrial area, Barangaroo, the University of Sydney and Waterloo are also being considered.

Geotechnical work in the harbour to determine the best route for the crossing will be completed “shortly” and further announcements would then be made about station locations, Mr Constance said

The government hopes to start construction in 2017, with the project complete by 2024. 

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Source and full article: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/nsw/nsw-governments-electricity-privatisation-gets-second-harbour-rail-crossing-under-way-20150604-ghggqj.html

Sydney built their City Rail Link and their first harbour rail crossing (as part of the Sydney Harbour Bridge) decades ago. In 2017 they will start their second harbour rail crossing.

By 2017 the Government will continue to dither over OUR City Rail Link (they say 2020 for the main project) let alone no commitment for our FIRST harbour rail crossing connecting the main Isthmus to the growing North Shore and Rodney once the CRL (Auckland Transit Link) is built.

The Government is decades behind and to be blunt a  reason( but not the sole reason) Auckland is held back from its full potential when we compete against the world cities like Sydney, Melbourne and other Pacific Rim cities.

At the end of the day it becomes very simple:

Reference:

Ben’s Thoughts: What if Auckland Could Build the City Rail Link Itself? #Auckland2016