State of Australian Cities 2012

[ozbob]

State of Australian Cities 2012

--> http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure/mcu/soac/index.aspx

[ozbob]

The Australian --> Urban sprawl hits productivity

... Launching the report today, Mr Albanese will argue that efficient transport is the key to arresting the decline in national productivity growth and say that Australia seems to be "at a crossroads in our housing".

He will also vow to use next year to advance work on the Council of Australian Governments reform agenda by measuring whether cities are improving in areas such as public transport use, traffic gridlock, air quality, housing affordability and urban density.

The report, produced by the Major Cities Unit in Mr Albanese's department, warns that Australia has entered into the longest period of static or falling productivity growth for more than 30 years. However, the report also states that for overall quality of life, Australia ranks as one of the top three countries in the world.

It also finds that implementation of the national urban policy - developed by the Gillard government as it has taken a more interventionist role in the planning and priorities of the cities - is "well under way".

On rail and metro buses, the report says that this is already at or near capacity and that this is made worse by an unsustainable financial model because fares are too low, even compared with low-density cities such as Washington DC and San Francisco.

Sydney's mass transit system recovers 24 per cent of its operating costs through the fare box, Melbourne recovering 31 per cent, and Perth 38 per cent.

For Canberra's bus system, users pay just 17 per cent of the cost of operating it - meaning even if fares jumped 5.3 times, only 90 per cent of costs would be recovered.

The report warns this situation is not sustainable. "In the absence of new revenue, it will be difficult to fund any new investment in transport infrastructure or operations," the report finds.

"The current financial model also means that the economic benefits of concentrating jobs in city centres comes at a significant cost to the rest of the economy through the subsidisation from state and territory revenue of the mass transit system servicing it."

Rail operators must either hike fares - a move that would be politically difficult when the Coalition has campaigned aggressively on the cost-of-living pressures on families - or follow the system used by Asia, Britain and the US operators to develop property along public transport corridors. "If not, the flow-on effects to national productivity could be considerable," the report says.

Mr Albanese will back the concern today, saying that capacity on the busy rail systems must be increased. On housing, Mr Albanese will warn "we are not building enough homes".

"We seem to be at a crossroads in our housing," he will say in the speech. "We know we cannot keep building at the same rate on the outskirts of our cities yet at the same time we are not building enough homes near our transport hubs and employment centres." ...

[somebody]

From the National summary:

 Fare recovery in Australian urban mass transit systems continues to decline, raising questions about the sustainability of current financial structures associated with public transport capital investment and operations.

That's pretty disappointing.  I would have thought Melbourne and Perth would be improving, perhaps offsetting the decline in Sydney and Brisbane.

[ozbob]

It is somewhat biased though.  It does not attempt to actually cost the road transport and consider the broader economic benefits of public transport as such.

Perth is running at 38% recovery, good I would say.

Albo is trying deflect blame for the looming transport failures ...  lol

But there is a valid point re value capture.  Almost zero in SEQ,  look at KGSBS for example, or Richlands, or Milton, or Caboolture ...

Gold Coast light rail is going to teach them a few lessons re value capture ..

[Gazza]

^Very good considering the fares are cheap there.

Ugh, when Labor wanted to address cost recovery, first stop should have been aiming for a more efficient system like Perth.

[ozbob]

^Very good considering the fares are cheap there.

Ugh, when Labor wanted to address cost recovery, first stop should have been aiming for a more efficient system like Perth.

Indeed, it is knee jerk response to say ' hike the fares ' , that will often just worsen recovery as we have witnessed in SEQ.

Perth has good social equity and still does very well ...

[somebody]

Not having guards and having fast trains would help significantly.  Too much labour time is consumed by crewing in QLD & NSW!

[ozbob]

DOO seems a big goal for SEQ.  I think there is a possibility though on some lines in time eg. Gold Coast, although ATP is probably a needed precursor ..

[Arnz]

DOO seems a big goal for SEQ.  I think there is a possibility though on some lines in time eg. Gold Coast, although ATP is probably a needed precursor ..

Speaking of ATP, what's the current implementation status of the ATPs on the IMU100s.

[ozbob]

 Metro to bring Hong Kong style to Melbourne

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> A taller, denser city

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> A taller, denser city

Some interesting blog comments.  Many punters not conned by the bull ...

--> http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/a-taller-denser-city-20121204-2atem.html#comments

[Jonno]

I read the report last night and I would call it a set of random observations rather than a comprehensive assessment of our Capital Cities.  We have been producing these reports, studies and plans for 20 years at local, state and federal level and little has changed.

Meanwhile cities such as Vancouver, Copenhagen, Portland, etc have transformed their cities with amazing places, walkable neighbourhoods and sustainable transport. 

We cannot continue with existing policies because they are creating this mess not failing to keep up or address.

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Jobs shift from suburbs to CBD

[somebody]

Melbourne Age --> Jobs shift from suburbs to CBD

Chris Loader's blogged on this.

I say that improved public transport has enabled jobs in the CBD.

[ozbob]

The Conversation --> All aboard: the growth of global rail and our future cities

... There is a major rail revival around the world, including light rail, metro rail, heavy rail, and high speed rail. At the same time car use has peaked and is in decline in most cities. However transport planning, especially in major Australian cities, continues to plan for expansion of road capacity and cannot understand this rail fetish. Why is there a reversal in the historic transport patterns? ...