Freight myopia in Sydney's strategic economic future

RDA/Sydney's 2012 edition omitted the following words from the earlier edition without counterbalancing the loss:

· "expanding rail in Western Sydney is a high priority"

· "despite the substantial increase in freight movements, Sydney still lacks a freight strategy" (while acknowledging TfNSW's moves in that direction)

· congestion and transport bottlenecks affecting investment and livelihood (a challenge)

· text on freight and priorities for a Regional Plan.

To summarise, an alternative vision that would re-balance logistics and employment and promote sustainable economic and infrastructure development through improved strategic plans and budgets would include:

· Re-engineering the legacy radial rail system within the metropolitan area through an extension from Hurstville to Strathfield/Parramatta, together with duplication of the Port Botany freight routes within 5 years (with connections to Enfield and Moorebank), and high-voltage AC power systems replacing diesel locomotives within 10 years

· The Maldon-Dombarton line – to be completed within 5 years, the expense is minor and all regional submissions to IA, iNSW and TfNSW supported it

· Western Sydney employment lands' potential in all land use, logistics, employment and related aspects

· Replacement of existing governmental and related consultative mechanisms with more effective ones in line with the Premier's election commitments.

The final pattern might look like this:

It is suggested that a "regional assembly" or like exercise reviews the robustness of current proposals against the matters not considered and/or concluded. This would review policy, planning and implementation processes and structures so as to achieve economic, community and political credibility and reverse Sydney's slide into economic oblivion.