Tag: New South Wales

NSW State Budget Commits More To Planning Projects

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An extra $1b to the Ministry and planning projects

From the New South Wales State Government which has handed down its Budget today:

Budget provides $1 billion for simpler planning, and better infrastructure for NSW

The Hon. Rob Stokes MP, Minister for Planning 23 Jun 2015

Planning Minister Rob Stokes today announced that the NSW Budget will invest $1 billion over four years in planning for the homes, jobs and services NSW needs for the future and making the system simpler and more efficient.

This is part of the NSW Government’s record $4.5 billion investment in the Planning and Environment cluster over four years.

Mr Stokes said the Budget outlines a clear plan for funding infrastructure where it is needed to help create vibrant communities across NSW.

“Providing record funding for infrastructure and amenity is accompanying record levels of housing supply in NSW and will help to put downward pressure on house prices,” Mr Stokes said.

In 2015-16, the NSW Government will invest:

  • $77.6 million to support infrastructure for new homes in The Hills and Blacktown local government areas;
  • $46 million towards new parks, streetscapes and roads to support communities in Priority Precincts;
  • $26 million from the Hunter Infrastructure and Investment Fund to local infrastructure projects, including more than $12 million towards the University of Newcastle’s New Space project;
  • $19.9 million to construct the on-line Planning Portal to make the planning system simpler and easier to use;
  • $16.9 million to halve the time it takes to assess state significant projects, expand community consultation opportunities and ensure there is adequate capacity to assess environmental and social impacts to support the Government’s unprecedented level of investment in transport and social infrastructure in NSW;
  • $19 million to establish the Greater Sydney Commission and deliver the Plan for Growing Sydney.
  • “This investment represents a down-payment on the parks, shops and jobs needed to create distinct and liveable neighbourhoods as Sydney and NSW grow.

“We are investing in a simpler online system by building the Planning Portal – taking the paperwork out of planning for homeowners and businesses.

“The budget provides funding to establish the Greater Sydney Commission which will act to bring a better coordinated approach to planning across metropolitan Sydney.”

For more information please visit www.budget.nsw.gov.au

Interactive Mapping the Budget tool highlights the key areas of spend. You can use the map to explore projects across planning regions and Local Government Areas (LGA), or filter by project type.

—-ends—-

I wonder how things would be handled if we have such Planning Ministries like New South Wales and Victoria. Especially as both State Governments are working through Sydney and Melbourne Plans, and committing billions to infrastructure such as heavy rail.

Meanwhile in New Zealand……

Sydney to Get Second Rail Harbour Crossing – While National Continues to Dither With Auckland

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While we waiting on our dithering Government for our City Rail Link

[That would enable the North Shore Line]

 

Again in Australia (this time Sydney) things get done while we continue to dither around.

From SMH:

Transport minister Andrew Constance says new Sydney Metro train line a ‘massive city shaping project’

Date June 16, 2015 Jacob Saulwick
New residential and commercial buildings are likely to be constructed as part of Sydney’s latest rail project, a mammoth underground train link carving under the lower north shore and inner city Sydney.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance briefed hundreds of industry executives on Tuesday morning about the $10 billion-plus project, which the government recently dubbed “Sydney Metro”.

“This massive city shaping project will be the new spine of our city’s public transport system and will serve us for generations to come with room to grow,” Mr Constance said.

Two options for the second harbour rail crossing, with stations at either Sydney University or Waterloo. Source: Sydney Morning Herald

 

…….The new line, which will use single-deck driverless trains, will connect to the proposed extension of the north west rail link at Chatswood, run under the city, and connect to the Bankstown Line at Sydenham.

At least three new train stations will be built in the city, at Martin Place, Pitt Street near Town Hall, and Central, with the possibility of another station at Barangaroo.

The stations that are being built for the north west rail link in Sydney’s outer north west suburbs have involved the digging of large boxes underground, a process that could need to be repeated in Sydney’s central business district.

Asked if new developments could be built on station boxes in central Sydney, Mr Constance said: “We’ve got to be open to everything.

“We are going to see a massive influx of people into Sydney as we grow, we are going to see the population grow to six million people by 2031, that means a combination of transport projects facilitating both urban developments in terms of brownfield sites and obviously greenfield sites as well,” he said.

“You only need to look at the development that’s happening in the north-west, and what we will see in terms of the uplift associated with Sydney Metro North West, to know that this type of infrastructure is a game changer in terms of urban design, urban planning,” he said.

“We want to maximise the development opportunities off the investments we are making on behalf of the taxpayer because it makes economic and social sense.”

 

Construction on the project is slated to start in 2017 and finish in 2024.

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Full article: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/transport-minister-andrew-constance-says-new-sydney-metro-train-line-a-massive-city-shaping-project-20150616-ghoy0v.html

 

So like In Victoria They Are Getting Stuff Done, New South Wales is also getting stuff done. This is while our Government continues its fine form of excuses and complete dithering.

New South Wales to Build Second Harbour Rail Crossing, While We Still Wait for the CRL to enable ONE! #Auckland2016

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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 … Continue reading New South Wales to Build Second Harbour Rail Crossing, While We Still Wait for the CRL to enable ONE! #Auckland2016

Victoria Labor Government Shows How It Is Done

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And they post a surplus too

 

You know when our National Government is behind the 8-ball when this happens out of Victoria:

 

And this is the first Budget for the Labor Victorian State Government and one that even produces a $1.5 billion surplus (approximate) straight off the bat first go.

 

Our Government lags badly if Victoria and for that matter New South Wales can invest heavily into actual transport projects (along side their Councils) and still run that magical Budget Surplus to boot…..