I particularly liked this extract from Michael Stove's BCCT submission relating to road noise:
"Speed limits must be kept low to reduce noise and pollution. There is no real need for the speed limit on this part of the M2 to be set at 100kph; a level of 80 kph would be adequate and safer. Apart from any other considerations, peak traffic levels probably mean that a speed of even 80 kph is in real terms unlikely to be achieved."
Several years ago the RTA introduced a trial of narrower lane markings in the west lane between Lane Cove Road and Beecroft Road, giving three lanes at very low cost and rapid implementation. The narrower lanes mandate an 80kph speed limit, which Michael's comment above suggests is no bad thing. The RTA narrow lane trial seems to have been entirely successful, only hampered because it terminates in the two (wider) lanes between Beecroft Road and Pennant Hills Road.
Extending the narrow three lanes solution along to Pennant Hills Road could be done very quickly and without damaging the Chilworth Recreation Reserve. The construction cost and time savings of avoiding the proposed eight lane flyover there would be enormous.
The RTA document rejects this narrower lane marking solution as an alternative to widening the road for reasons that seem very debatable. The "narrow lane / reduced speed / low cost / fast implementation" solution should be re-considered, at least on the Beecroft Road to Pennant Hills Road section westbound.
Monday, June 28, 2010
M2 Widening - BCCT Submission
The Beecroft Cheltenham Civic Trust has put in a most excellent submission opposing the M2 Widening Project. You can read it on http://www.2119.org.au/ by clicking the link at
"The BCCT formally objected to the project due to a number of issues. Please follow this link to view of full submission."
The submission covers noise, effect on vegetation, effect on volunteer work in the area, and perhaps above all "The proposal is not a real solution to the problem it purports to address."
Regarding the Beecroft Rd to Pennant Hills Road section of the M2, the submission rejects the damaging proposal to use Allerton Road for access, and suggests instead the existing and unused access road to the south of the Penant Hills Golf Course. All users of Chilworth Recreation Reserve must applaud that suggestion, if indeed the widening of this section does have to take place. But the submission stresses the long term permanent damage that the widened road would have on the Reserve.
"The BCCT formally objected to the project due to a number of issues. Please follow this link to view of full submission."
The submission covers noise, effect on vegetation, effect on volunteer work in the area, and perhaps above all "The proposal is not a real solution to the problem it purports to address."
Regarding the Beecroft Rd to Pennant Hills Road section of the M2, the submission rejects the damaging proposal to use Allerton Road for access, and suggests instead the existing and unused access road to the south of the Penant Hills Golf Course. All users of Chilworth Recreation Reserve must applaud that suggestion, if indeed the widening of this section does have to take place. But the submission stresses the long term permanent damage that the widened road would have on the Reserve.
Hornsby Shire Housing Strategy - Carlingford Out but Beecroft Still In?
Hornsby Shire reports revisions to the Shire Housing Strategy, removing Carlingford from the plan, but there is no indication that Beecroft will also be spared.
The mayor, Nick Berman, said the revised plan would still allow the council to meet its allocated target without having to allow 20 storey buildings. "There would still be some medium density blocks close to railway stations," Cr Berman said.
It's not obvious how the planners can delete so many planned new dwellings and still meet their target.
The mayor, Nick Berman, said the revised plan would still allow the council to meet its allocated target without having to allow 20 storey buildings. "There would still be some medium density blocks close to railway stations," Cr Berman said.
It's not obvious how the planners can delete so many planned new dwellings and still meet their target.
A meeting to discuss these amendments is to be held in council chambers, 296 Pacific Highway, 6:30 pm on Wednesday 7 July.
Friday, June 25, 2010
US Housing Market hits record lows
The housing market in USA "has never been so bad, at least since records started in 1963". Apparently 588,000 home owners faced with negative equity walked away from their homes in 2008, which is allowed in USA, but now apparently Fannie Mae is threatening to take legal action to recoup the outstanding mortgage debt of those poor people. What a mess! Apparently there are now eight months worth of new and existing homes on the market, and of course more foreclosures will add to that.
One wonders what will happen in Australia when first home owners find it's not as easy as they thought to pay a mortgage and all the other costs of home ownership. But for the moment Australian housing markets seem as good a place as any to park money. There are not many good alternatives visible worldwide at the moment!
One wonders what will happen in Australia when first home owners find it's not as easy as they thought to pay a mortgage and all the other costs of home ownership. But for the moment Australian housing markets seem as good a place as any to park money. There are not many good alternatives visible worldwide at the moment!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
House Price Rises to Slow
According to BIS Shrapnel, rising interest rates and weaker first home buyer activity will lead to slower house price growth this year. However they say that house prices will not fall, and rents will continue to rise.
Meanwhile figures from the Bureau of Statistics show that lending to property investors rose 11% in the first four months of the year, as investors shy away from the stock market and look for somewhere to park their money. According to BIS Shrapnel, "real estate looks a safer bet than the stockmarket". If you stick your money into a term deposit, you have to pay tax on the interest.
Meanwhile figures from the Bureau of Statistics show that lending to property investors rose 11% in the first four months of the year, as investors shy away from the stock market and look for somewhere to park their money. According to BIS Shrapnel, "real estate looks a safer bet than the stockmarket". If you stick your money into a term deposit, you have to pay tax on the interest.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Freedom of Information Law Change July 1
Doing internet searches into RTA freedom of information topics after reading an article in SMH 28 May, I found a great blog on the topic, http://foi-privacy.blogspot.com/ by Peter Timmins. Some good reading there!
A note of caution about the new laws was in a comment on the blog "the changes that this legislation has the potential to make is significant and welcome". Note the word "potential". As The Greens Lee Rhiannon said in welcoming the new laws, "their strength will be largely determined by how well they are championed from on high."
A note of caution about the new laws was in a comment on the blog "the changes that this legislation has the potential to make is significant and welcome". Note the word "potential". As The Greens Lee Rhiannon said in welcoming the new laws, "their strength will be largely determined by how well they are championed from on high."
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Developer Levy clamp anger
Concern over the State Government budget decision to cap developer levies is causing Sydney councils to pull approvals on new subdivisions, and ban new development applications! This will create havoc with the state's metropolitan strategy which expects councils to house another million residents.
Western Sydney Region of Councils says the decision to cap developer levies at $20K would bankrupt many councils unless either rates rise 300%, or development is halted. Not a difficult decision for existing residents to take! After all, it seems only Kevin Rudd and the developers want his proposed "Big Australia". The recent revolts all around Sydney about housing strategies involving high rise high density units demonstrates the strategy is not wanted by the general public, and huge increases in rates will make it even more unpopular.
Western Sydney Region of Councils says the decision to cap developer levies at $20K would bankrupt many councils unless either rates rise 300%, or development is halted. Not a difficult decision for existing residents to take! After all, it seems only Kevin Rudd and the developers want his proposed "Big Australia". The recent revolts all around Sydney about housing strategies involving high rise high density units demonstrates the strategy is not wanted by the general public, and huge increases in rates will make it even more unpopular.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
State Budget stamp duty cuts
Stamp duty will be cut for the next two years for people buying off-the-plan dwellings, up to $600,000. For people over 65, downsizing by buying a newly constructed home, will also pay no stamp duty so long as the new home is worth no more than $600,000.
Good news, but not very relevant for people in Beecroft or Cheltenham, not much available round here under that amount!
Good news, but not very relevant for people in Beecroft or Cheltenham, not much available round here under that amount!
Developer Levy Capped by NSW Government
The state government has imposed a $20,000 cap of developer contributions per lot, effective yesterday, but the levies are only imposed on "essential infrastructure". So far this phrase has not been defined, which makes it rather hard for developers to plan. Even so, the developers are happy with the new rules, because some councils had been imposing levies of $50,000 or more per house.
A spokesman for the Planning Minister says "guidance would be provided to councils within weeks".
Genia McCarrery, head of the Local Government Association says capped levies would result in huge rate increases, particularly in growth areas. Councils would have to spread the cost of developing new land over all the households in the municipality.
A spokesman for the Planning Minister says "guidance would be provided to councils within weeks".
Genia McCarrery, head of the Local Government Association says capped levies would result in huge rate increases, particularly in growth areas. Councils would have to spread the cost of developing new land over all the households in the municipality.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Stimulus puts Homes on Hold
Tradesmen working on school building projects around the country are being blamed for the unexpected fall in housing construction over the last six months. New housing investment fell by 4.3% in the December quarter.
But surely the stimulus package was meant to create new jobs, not just divert labour from housing projects onto the high profit school construction activity.
But surely the stimulus package was meant to create new jobs, not just divert labour from housing projects onto the high profit school construction activity.
The Great National Broadband Network
Apparently the Tasmanian government has estimated that only 16% of homes will take up the high speed internet system now being installed in Tasmania, the first state to receive the fabulous new $43 billion fibre-optic network of which the Rudd government is so proud.
There are also questions being raised about whether the cost quoted by Stephen Conroy includes the costs of restoring roads and pavements ripped up during the installation, or whether local government will be expected to make good after the installers leave! Given the already parlous state of most local government finances, that little detail certainly needs to be clarified pretty quickly!
There are also questions being raised about whether the cost quoted by Stephen Conroy includes the costs of restoring roads and pavements ripped up during the installation, or whether local government will be expected to make good after the installers leave! Given the already parlous state of most local government finances, that little detail certainly needs to be clarified pretty quickly!
Friday, June 4, 2010
M2 Upgrade Project through Beecroft
The M2 Upgrade intentions are described in www.hillsm2upgrade.com.au/files/environmental_assessment
Detailed descriptions of the project's intentions are available.
This blog only addresses the Beecroft and Cheltenham precincts. The overall plan for the Beecroft area is summarised here. Expanding the Beecroft and Cheltenham bit, you see:
Reading the EA, you find details of the intentions for the viaducts over Chilworth Recreational Reserve here:
The intention is to build a new lane out on the south side, and to fill in the gaps between the present bridge structures, to give the following result:
Detailed descriptions of the project's intentions are available.
This blog only addresses the Beecroft and Cheltenham precincts. The overall plan for the Beecroft area is summarised here. Expanding the Beecroft and Cheltenham bit, you see: Reading the EA, you find details of the intentions for the viaducts over Chilworth Recreational Reserve here: The intention is to build a new lane out on the south side, and to fill in the gaps between the present bridge structures, to give the following result:
At the same time, the tunnel south of the Beecroft M2 access will be widened, as shown:
Two years in construction, starting end 2010! Submissions must be in by 21 June.
Heavy Rain around Beecroft
Devlin's Creek underpass under the M2 motorway was in full flood this morning after heavy overnight rain.
The tree, which wasn't there yesterday, shows that the water was obviously much higher during the night!
Surprisingly, so far Ray White Beecroft has received only one phone call about flooding in the many properties they have under management.
The tree, which wasn't there yesterday, shows that the water was obviously much higher during the night!Surprisingly, so far Ray White Beecroft has received only one phone call about flooding in the many properties they have under management.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
M2 Widening Project submissions close 21 June
Did you know that submissions on the M2 Widening Project close on 21 June?
The plan includes providing a third lane each way between Pennant Hills Road and Beecroft Road. This was achieved to the south of Beecroft Road by taking out the bike lane, but this doesn't seem to be an option for the road over Chilworth Reserve.
Someone not on the council tells me that the intention is to do this new widening by filling in the space between the two existing viaducts over the reserve. That sounds like major work! Yet the exhibitions now available don't explain this, and don't appear to give any estimate for the time this major construction work will take, or what times the work will be undertaken. Anyone who lives in the area will be dreading extended night construction work!
The wider carriage way is likely to be less well shielded by the sound barriers originally provided, so the traffic noise will presumably be significantly higher even if no more traffic is attracted to the road by the extra lanes.
But surely more significant is the extensive evidence from many independent studies that the whole plan is flawed. All it will do is suck more traffic from the North West down into this road, which is already saturated as it nears the city.
Two years ago the Beecroft-Cheltenham Civic Trust made a submission on this issue, including "The Trust would also oppose any widening of the existing carriageway because of the high impact on local amenity". One would have expected this to have been followed by a major campaign to inform everyone of the evolving state of the project, but I haven't heard anything. Did I miss it?
To learn more, go to http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/, and enter M2 Upgrade in the "search projects" box. Click M2 Motorway Upgrade, and at the bottom of the page is where you can record your submission.
The plan includes providing a third lane each way between Pennant Hills Road and Beecroft Road. This was achieved to the south of Beecroft Road by taking out the bike lane, but this doesn't seem to be an option for the road over Chilworth Reserve.
Someone not on the council tells me that the intention is to do this new widening by filling in the space between the two existing viaducts over the reserve. That sounds like major work! Yet the exhibitions now available don't explain this, and don't appear to give any estimate for the time this major construction work will take, or what times the work will be undertaken. Anyone who lives in the area will be dreading extended night construction work!
The wider carriage way is likely to be less well shielded by the sound barriers originally provided, so the traffic noise will presumably be significantly higher even if no more traffic is attracted to the road by the extra lanes.
But surely more significant is the extensive evidence from many independent studies that the whole plan is flawed. All it will do is suck more traffic from the North West down into this road, which is already saturated as it nears the city.
Two years ago the Beecroft-Cheltenham Civic Trust made a submission on this issue, including "The Trust would also oppose any widening of the existing carriageway because of the high impact on local amenity". One would have expected this to have been followed by a major campaign to inform everyone of the evolving state of the project, but I haven't heard anything. Did I miss it?
To learn more, go to http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/, and enter M2 Upgrade in the "search projects" box. Click M2 Motorway Upgrade, and at the bottom of the page is where you can record your submission.
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