Depressing.
That’s the first emotion that comes to mind after watching the recent Four Corners documentary on the state of Sydney’s transport network.
If you ever needed to be convinced that NSW public transport is a basket case then this well researched documentary is the way to do it.
It’s excruciating to watch the 40 and 50 year old school boys (that seems the best way to describe NSW’s politicians) who are supposed to be running this state for the good of it’s citizens, but who quite clearly dedicate most of their time quibbling, indulging in party politics, and of course, refusing to admit wrong.
None of them seem to have a strong grasp on the complex issue of public transport, nor do any of them display any sort of strategic vision which we so badly need.
Almost all the experts featured in the documentary are those brought in by Four Corners to analyse the governments plans. Everyone else seems to be a bureaucrat or apparatchik.
One of the main thrusts of the documentary is about how the new Sydney Metro rail plan has come to be. Quite shockingly, although unsurprisingly, it’s a tale of a stubborn government plan to “do something” irrespective of whether it meets current or future needs. It’s also a tale of bad economic planning of the NSW government leading to lack of funds to invest in infrastructure. What is most irksome is the fact the plan for the Metro appears to have materialised before any thorough research was done. The “supporting” research appeared after the decision was made. Sound fishy to you?
The other thing about the Metro is that only one small link is currently funded. The rest of the grand plan is unfunded, and I think we can be pretty sure the Labour government will be voted out of power (at least if every voter watches this documentary!) before the Metro is completed. And you can bet your bottom dollar the next people in power will end up scrapping the Metro plans, probably for good reason. Oh dear, sounds like history repeating…
Nathan Reese is also quoted in the docco as saying on a typical working day, two-thirds of his time is taken up with public transport issues. To be honest I reckon that is probably what is needed. It’s a bit hard to judge his individual efforts as he has not been in power for long, but the docco gives a real sense of the party machine behind everything that happens in NSW, so it doesn’t really give much hope that any lone politicians can save us.
Four Corners homepage here. Direct link to the watch the documentary here, including extended interviews.
Okay, here’s what I like about this thread… I love the fact that you folks realise that there is a problem.
So what can we do about it? Do you want it changed? Do you believe it can be changed? Are you just having a winge?
Do you know how bad it really is going to get with your Ozzie 50-50 sorry not sorry politicians pretending to do be busy and throwing your toll money in the toilet?
This is 3rd world traffic, and yes, I know 3rd world traffic, but NSW is just completely embarrassing.
So what’s my plan? Here we go (3 steps):
1. Get the government’s attention: A NSW-wide protest grid-lock for 10 minutes on 30 July this year (tell your friends). We hoot for 5-10 seconds and slow to a halt at 7:45am on Monday 25 July. We just sit there for 10 minutes and then get going again at 7:45am, hooting for 10 seconds before we start going again.
2. Send emails that evening to the NSW parliament traffic dept, flood their databases with emails on suggestions, not just crap “I hate you” type idiotic ideas, but make your frustration known.
3. Make every attempt you can to use public transport, ride a bike, walk to work, walk to the shop, offer lifts to people who live in the same area as you, even if it takes you a little longer to get home.
If I get enough following and demand, I will start a website promoting this plan.
Or you can just keep heading for disaster and think only about yourself and your one-passenger SUV gridlock heaven.
Much love