Article: Greiner releases $30 billion state infrastructure plan

[ozbob]

From the Sydney Morning Herald click here!

Greiner releases $30 billion state infrastructure plan

Greiner releases $30 billion state infrastructure plan
October 3, 2012 - 11:00AM
Jacob Saulwick

A 33-kilometre extension of the M4 to Sydney Airport and another M5 East tunnel are the major projects in a $30 billion infrastructure plan for the state released this morning.

The Infrastructure NSW plan, called "First Things First", also proposes a motorway connection between the F3 and M2 motorways in northern Sydney to be built in the next five years.

The plan, released by Infrastructure NSW chairman Nick Greiner and chief executive Paul Broad at a press conference this morning, would require $20 billion in government funding in the next 20 years.

Another $10 billion can be raised in tolls, the plan suggests.

The combined M4 and M5 extensions, dubbed WestConnex, are said to cost $10 billion, with just $2.5 billion in government funding.

The plan also proposes pushing buses underground in Sydney's CBD to clear road space.

This would hinge on new underground interchanges at Wynyard and Town Hall stations, to be built within five to 10 years.

The plan rejects the idea of a second rail crossing for Sydney Harbour, as proposed in a separate plan developed by the state's Transport Department.

The report recommends light rail from Central to the University of NSW, but not in the city centre.

It says the next train line to be built could be an extension of the eastern suburbs line to Randwick and Maroubra.

The chairman of Infrastructure NSW said he hoped the community would regard the report as "independent of the politics of both sides, of the bureaucracy and of the various interest groups".

Mr Greiner said he hoped people would see the plan as "coherent" and "practical".

"The last thing the average person in NSW [wants] is another theoretical exercise that has no likelihood of being achieved."

He said that he hoped that "people see it as a step towards good things happening in infrastructure in NSW."

The Infrastructure NSW plan proposes that $10 billion of the estimated $30 billion cost of the projects be funding through user charges.

The project proposes tolling on motorways but only on new and upgraded roads.

It also supports the idea of "value capture" to impose new taxes on properties that will benefit by being close to newly built infrastructure.

The report also proposes the government consider public private partnerships, including so-called "availability PPPs" where the risk is carried by the taxpayer, not the private sector.

- with Sean Nicholls

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/greiner-releases-30-billion-state-infrastructure-plan-20121003-26yef.html#ixzz28COvxbmi

[ozbob]

The Australian --> Motorways, underground buses, among priorities in NSW infrastructure plan

[Stillwater]

Congestion tax
+
'It also supports the idea of "value capture" to impose new taxes on properties that will benefit by being close to newly built infrastructure.'
=
solution to Brisbane's PT infrastructure funding woes.

However, no politician is going to impose a congestion tax after campaigning to 'lower the cost of living for families.'

[ozbob]

--> http://www.infrastructure.nsw.gov.au/state-infrastructure-strategy.aspx

First things first
A 20 year State Infrastructure Strategy

In July 2011, Infrastructure NSW was tasked with preparing a 20 year Strategy that assesses the current state of infrastructure and identifies strategic priorities.

The Strategy is independent advice to the Government on the specific infrastructure investments and reforms recommended to make NSW number one again.

The Strategy looks across a broad range of sectors and identifies specific projects and programs for priority consideration.  It also makes recommendations to the NSW Government on how to fund these recommendations.

[ozbob]

 

[johnnigh]

Strangely, Greiner's Infrastructure NSW, supposedly a body to assess govt proposals, quickly became an alternative to govt policy. Mr G, having done a lot of people's dough on tollways that went bust, now wants to build a lot more and certainly doesn't want any more pesky railway lines. So NSW has Transport NSW, the old RTA etc, proposing new PT and rail solutions, while Inf. NSW proposes motorway alternatives. The funding suggestions, as is obvious, are not going to be taken up any time soon, nor is Barry O'F likely to decide to do anything at all.

[somebody]

This contains the idea of swapping the locals and suburbans.  I nominate this to be the stupidest suggestion ever officially put forward by a NSW govt body.  There is no increase in capacity from doing that.

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Goodbye Parramatta Road ... hello mega tollway

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Motorway plan isn't free of potholes

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Commuters face years of pain under shutdown plan

off the rails,  crikey ...

[somebody]

Here's a parody fvrom Ecotransit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0DYZOWRO_0&feature=plcp

[Set in train]

More on Greiner who is desperate to see rail service removed from Newcastle CBD:

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/424362/rail-line-has-to-go-greiner/?cs=305

More here:

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/426033/opinion-keep-rail-in-our-hands/?cs=305