Light rail is only going to make surface travel worse for CBD commuters in Sydney, particularly in the Eastern Suburbs. Heavy rail is the only solution for a modern city and electric driven buses should fill the network in between heavy rail hubs.
However if the NSW Government is not going to pay for heavy rail to the most densely populated areas of the Eastern suburbs and link Bondi Junction to the Airport via Randwick City then light rail will be an expensive bandaid fix.
If light rail is going to work it should adopt the following principles.
1. It should link heavy rail hubs with high population centres.
2. It should not run down major roads and cause traffic problems and safety issues
3. It should be for multipurpose use. i.e.) commuter use on weekdays and sporting and leisure use on weekends
Light rail routes should be thoroughly discussed by the community now and not after the NSW Government gets around to doing anything about it.
The Randwick City Comprehensive LEP and DCP are currently under review and now is the time for Council to consult and identify probable light rail corridors.
I strongly believe using my principles above that these routes should not travel along Anzac Parade from Kensington to the City but should flow East-West across the main traffic flow linking Green Square station to Randwick to the Racecourse, the University and the Hospital. Further South a second route should link Mascot station with Kingsford and Maroubra. This will feed the heavy rail network without creating more traffic issues on arterial roads in Eastern Sydney.
Friday 1 July 2011
Monday 27 June 2011
Malabar Headland Green Belt
Now is time for a full and frank debate on the future of Malabar Headland!
The Randwick City Council Open Space and Environment Discussion Paper only refers to the public use of the headland as "the proposed park within PART of the Malabar headland". There is no plan for a whole of headland park yet! We need to look at the holistic use of the 177 ha and the adjoining parks and beaches. A "Maroubra/Malabar green belt" is a concept that should be acknowledged in the current review of Randwick's new Comprehensive Randwick Local Environmental Plan and Development Control Plan
The Randwick City Council Open Space and Environment Discussion Paper only refers to the public use of the headland as "the proposed park within PART of the Malabar headland". There is no plan for a whole of headland park yet! We need to look at the holistic use of the 177 ha and the adjoining parks and beaches. A "Maroubra/Malabar green belt" is a concept that should be acknowledged in the current review of Randwick's new Comprehensive Randwick Local Environmental Plan and Development Control Plan
Tuesday 14 June 2011
ESTABLISH A TRUST FOR MALABAR HEADLAND
Geoff Stevenson
Press Release
ESTABLISH A TRUST FOR MALABAR HEADLAND
Councillor Geoff Stevenson
Central Ward Councillor Randwick City Council
Labor Councillor Geoff Stevenson from Maroubra calls on the State and Federal Governments to immediately establish a Public Trust to deliver and manage the Malabar headland park.
Councillor Stevenson from Randwick Council also calls for the annexing of Maroubra Beach, Arthur Byrne Reserve, Pioneers Park, Cromwell Park and Malabar beach into the new Park Trust.
Councillor Stevenson believes Randwick Council should not be involved with the management of the Park but adopt the same approach as it does with Centennial Park, also within the Council area.
Councillor Stevenson says that the headland park will be the most significant recreational area added to Sydney in the foreseeable future and like Centennial Park will be used by all Sydneysiders not just locals in adjoining suburbs. “It’s too important an asset for the people of Sydney for it to be used as political football between local activists, Councillors and the State and Federal Governments.” Already there are groups fighting over who and how the land will be shared. The logical approach is to create a trust now and allow community and Government representatives to get on with the job.”
“The funding of the remediation of the land and return to public use should be jointly funded by the NSW and Federal Governments. This cost may run into hundreds of millions but if you had to put a price on Centennial Park in Randwick’s north as a comparison there would be no argument that users get wonderful value. Not only will the new Malabar headland park be bigger than Centennial Park but it will have a coastal walkway running through it from Sydney Harbour to Botany Bay that will make it an international tourist destination.” “I expect it will become the most frequented coastal park in Australia when it is finished” Councillor Stevenson said.
Press Release
ESTABLISH A TRUST FOR MALABAR HEADLAND
Councillor Geoff Stevenson
Central Ward Councillor Randwick City Council
Labor Councillor Geoff Stevenson from Maroubra calls on the State and Federal Governments to immediately establish a Public Trust to deliver and manage the Malabar headland park.
Councillor Stevenson from Randwick Council also calls for the annexing of Maroubra Beach, Arthur Byrne Reserve, Pioneers Park, Cromwell Park and Malabar beach into the new Park Trust.
Councillor Stevenson believes Randwick Council should not be involved with the management of the Park but adopt the same approach as it does with Centennial Park, also within the Council area.
Councillor Stevenson says that the headland park will be the most significant recreational area added to Sydney in the foreseeable future and like Centennial Park will be used by all Sydneysiders not just locals in adjoining suburbs. “It’s too important an asset for the people of Sydney for it to be used as political football between local activists, Councillors and the State and Federal Governments.” Already there are groups fighting over who and how the land will be shared. The logical approach is to create a trust now and allow community and Government representatives to get on with the job.”
“The funding of the remediation of the land and return to public use should be jointly funded by the NSW and Federal Governments. This cost may run into hundreds of millions but if you had to put a price on Centennial Park in Randwick’s north as a comparison there would be no argument that users get wonderful value. Not only will the new Malabar headland park be bigger than Centennial Park but it will have a coastal walkway running through it from Sydney Harbour to Botany Bay that will make it an international tourist destination.” “I expect it will become the most frequented coastal park in Australia when it is finished” Councillor Stevenson said.
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