Is Australia driving backwards?

"We will start work within 12 months on Melbourne's east-west link, Sydney's west connects, Brisbane's Gateway Motorway Upgrade, Adelaide's South Road and Tasmania's Midland Highway. As well as key roads in Perth and parts of the Bruce Highway. Because when you're stuck in traffic jams, you aren't at work, or at home with your family"

Opposition leader, Tony Abbott - 16th May, 2013

In a country that's falling behind the rest of the world in transport infrastructure, the NSW Government has recently announced that traffic congestion is costing Sydney $51.1 billion a year. It's currently estimated to be the 7th most congested city in the western world.

Forgetting that there is a direct correlation between road supply and demand, the federal opposition leader, Tony Abbott has then stated today that if elected he will spend MORE money on roads. All without a single mention of direct federal investment or state support for much need rail links.

Major cities around the world are investing into rail and cycle infrastructure in order to more effectively integrate multiple modes of transport with residential and business centres.

This does not mean they're getting rid of cars or roads - it simply means they're providing alternative modes of transport to move away from the dangerous car/oil addiction. These steps take significant pressure off road infrastructure, imported oil reliance and make for much more healthy, pleasant and efficient cities to live and work.

In addition the city's £16 billion Crossrail line, London's mayor has just announced £1 billion for cycling infrastructure.  Similarly, in the USA, with increased investments into alternative modes of transport, national rail commuter numbers have hit an all time high.

After a sudden increase in car ownership over the past couple of decades, Chinese cities have been feeling the negative effects of over-congestion. Planners and politicians are now working hard to resist a reliance on the car. Hangzhou has recently opened the world's largest bike share scheme, and the country's high speed rail is expected to increase from 10,000 to 120,000 kilometres over the next 7 years.

As the rest of the world takes steps towards more sustainable forms of transportation, Australia seems to be moving in the wrong direction. With promises to build more and more roads, it seems it will take Australians even longer to be at work, or at home with their families.

Feature image courtesy SMH.

Sydney’s Barangaroo: Repeating Mistakes of the Past?

Casino tycoon James Packer, is bidding to build a resort-style casino on the Sydney's most central and beautiful foreshores - Barangaroo.

Every city has had its planning blunders. In fact, a number of monstrosities are probably being constructed near you right now. I’m sure you can name a few. Too often mistakes are made today because past errors have been too easily forgotten.

Throughout the 60′s, the Sydney construction industry was booming; skyscrapers were being erected across the central district, new motorways were extending into the vast suburbs and ex-industrial foreshore sites were quickly being developed into large housing estates as industry moved further inland. “Brave new world” masterplanning techniques embedded the development industry and the city saw the loss of some of its oldest buildings and most vital green spaces.

The Green Ban movement of the 70′s changed all of this. Between 1971 and 1974 around 40 construction bans were imposed by the Builders Labourers Federation to prevent the destruction of buildings or green areas. The most controversial was the ban to halt the redevelopment of The Rocks. After years of strikes and bloody confrontations, the plan to redevelop Sydney’s oldest suburb was altered to ensure strict preservation of historic buildings. Today,The Rocks is one of the city’s largest tourist destinations.

So, what did Sydney learn from the Green Ban movement? According to the new plans to redevelop Barangaroo, not a lot. While the bans did reform planning policy and change the development culture of the entire nation, it seems that in 2013, all has been forgotten.

Casino tycoon James Packer, son of the famous Kerry Packer, is bidding to build a resort-style casino (alongside multiple office buildings) on the city’s most central and beautiful foreshores – Barangaroo.

Interestingly, Barangaroo sits just down the street from The Rocks. So, with this in mind one would hope Packer has carefully considered the area’s history but it doesn’t look like it. All Packer seems to care about his how his “iconic project” can compete with Melbourne and China. With so much support for his development, it seems that the rest of the city has forgotten as well. If we’ve learned anything from Sydney’s past, it’s that the preservation of itsnatural features, particularly the harbour and foreshores, are what has made it such a globally attractive city.

Cities don’t succeed by copying others. Rather, they become far more unique and exciting by learning from their mistakes and enhancing their best features. I don’t know about you, but I’d say another tacky casino doesn’t seem to fit that mould.

Click here to check out this article on the Urban Times.

Feature image courtesy aussiegall/Flickr.

Jack Mundey at The Rocks, Sydney

Following up the Barangaroo article I wrote for the Urban Times, I was informed about this beautiful temporary mural of Jack Mundey down at The Rocks.

The exhibition Dissolve by  Portuguese artist Alexandre Farto ('Vhils') (see on Artsy) acts to once again remind us of Sydney's very important urban history... One that should not be forgotten in today's planning context.

What an awesome piece of work. If you're in Sydney check out the this page for more info on the gallery.

Feature image by Baddogwhiskas.

What makes Bondi famous?

Early mornings are always a good time to take photos down at Bondi.  

I was hanging out with my grandpa down at his favourite beach this morning - Bondi. After years of heading there with friends and family, taking photos, swimming and surfing, I thought it was about time I shared my thoughts on what is also one of my favourite places in Sydney. 

Bondi is one of the world's most famous beaches, and is incredibly special to Sydney. Located 7 kilometres from the Central Business District, it has always been the 'city beach' (my 95 year old grandpa wouldn't let you forget it), and is the face of almost every Australian marketing campaign - from Bondi Rescue to QANTAS advertisements to Oporto's Burgers. But what has kept Bondi beautiful is not its fame, or fortune... It is actually, the opposite.

Me chatting away on the phone while my friend Sam Doss patiently waits on... :) 

North-side view of the beach.

Surfers catching late afternoon swell.

Bondi has never peaked. It has never been too crowded, nor has it ever become overdeveloped. Transport to Bondi is difficult, parking is a nightmare and developers have never stood a chance. Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.

Without a train line or multi-storey apartments, Bondi has managed to stave off Gold Coast-style developments that have been occurring across Australian coastlines. In doing so, it has managed to hold on to that small coastal town mentality and laid back vibe - even in the midst of tourist season.

Bondi may have become made famous because of its golden sand and surf breaks, but its the intimate character of its shoreline that has helped to keep it special, and stopped it from expanding at its own peril - like so many other coastal boom towns.

The life and death of purple sneakers, Sydney

The Abercrombie Hotel, sitting on the site of the former Australian Hotel, has been a strong part of Sydney’s pub and live music scene for decades. Every Friday night, Purple Sneakers was for a long time, one of Sydney’s most popular clubs.

Cheap booze, live music and an outdoor beer garden kept my friends and I going for years.

While Sneakers has moved on, The Abercrombie vibe remains pretty much the same. But with the Central Park development encroaching from behind, I've begun to wonder, for just how long.

Image courtesy Music Feeds.

Image courtesy Micromaniac

Central Park is one of the biggest developments Sydney has seen for years, and it'll bring some great benefits to the city as a whole, including open space, independent retail, much needed inner city housing, modern architecture and a much more aesthetically pleasing Broadway streetscape. But as with any new big development, there is a sense of fear that once it is built, the past is gone forever.

Restricted under heritage laws the 1937 hotel is set to remain where it is. It will however, be completely surrounded by apartments - both around and above. It wasn't until I saw this development in the flesh that I really began to think about some of the changes that this mammoth new construction will bring to the area, and more specifically, to the pub itself.

Image courtesy Central Park.

Will people still want to drink there when it’s surrounded by multi-million dollar apartments? Will the new residents complain about late night noise and impose a curfew? Will The Abercrombie still have grotty toilets, sticky floors and the smell of stale booze engrained in its walls?

It’s hard to imagine this place five years down the track. With The Abercrombie buried beneath the floorboards of wealthy financiers, Purple Sneakers will be all but a distant memory.

Our city is evolving right in front of our eyes. Hundreds of years of history can be altered or destroyed in a number of days. While change is good for a city, it's also important to remember that there's nothing wrong with a bit of nostalgia.

As Central Park begins to engulf The Abercrombie, we're in the process of watching history unfold. For better or for worse - Broadway will never look or feel the same.

Sign Of The Times

Love it or hate it, the William Street Coca-Cola sign is one of the world's most costly billboard real estate locations in the world and a prominent historic Sydney icon. I've never really found it too pleasing too look at. In fact I've always kind of hated it. But to be honest I can't imagine the Cross without it.

Those bright red lights have remained a stable fixture in Sydney's landscape while the world around it has evolved. From the cars driving around on the streets, to the types of drugs the junkies are shooting up with, a lot of shit has changed in Kings Cross since 1974. Except that sign. I don't really know why, but there's something comforting about that.

1974 - photographer unknown

Late 1970s - photographer unknown

2008 - Photograph by Ian Waldie

Feature image courtesy Getty Images.