Back to the future: Aussie HSR
It's great to see Infrastructure Minister Catherine King call for experts to fill board roles on the newly created Australian High Speed Rail Authority (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-24/federal-government-looking-into-high-speed-rail/102021356 ). Backed by $500 million in federal funding, this is the clearest commitment yet by any Australian government to building an HSR network. Full credit goes to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who has followed through on his long-held promise to bring HSR to this country.
Past efforts to introduce HSR to Australia have fallen over not due to technical and cost challenges, which are considerable, but to scepticism and lack of imagination. We will waste $500 million on another failed attempt if these barriers are not dealt with first. The Australian HSR board should undertake three priority initiatives to overcome these obstacles.
First, develop an east coast settlement strategy to guide Australia's population growth over the next century. Use this master plan to address chronic issues of housing affordability, congestion, and quality of life in our cities and towns. Overlay a hierarchy of modern, interconnected, land-based transport modes (HSR, fast rail, metro, etc) to reach into regional areas, knit together existing and new cities and towns, and share the benefits of this country.
Second, demand an equitable return on the public’s investment in HSR to help pay for it. Capture a fair share of the uplift in land value around transit stations through timely and effective planning and zoning controls. Harmonise federal and state value capture funding methods so that contributions are transparent, consistent, binding and fair.
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Finally, add national excitement and global sizzle by opening the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games with high speed rail connections between Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast in Queensland (https://brisbanedevelopment.com/queensland-olympic-legacy-high-speed-rail/ ). Simultaneously build-out compatible HSR networks from Sydney and Melbourne. Less than 20 years after the devastation of the Second World War, Japan introduced high speed rail to the world at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and has methodically extended its HSR network to nearly 3,000 km.
Let’s lift our game and envision a better future. Let’s bring high speed rail to Australia.
Smart Growth Advocate
2 年The Australian Government took the next small but important step in planning and developing a high speed rail system in Australia. Submission closed yesterday for nominations to the High Speed Rail Authority Board. The Board will consist of a Chair and four part-time Members who will oversee the HSRA. The Board be responsible for setting HSRA's strategic direction and ensuring its performance, and overseeing policy development, intergovernmental coordination, stakeholder engagement, investment, planning and construction. This will be a long and difficult project with lots of twists and turns. Let's keep our eyes on the prize. Let's bring high speed rail to Australia.
AGSM MBA (Executive) | Major Capital Projects Advisory | Making Complex Things Simple | Project Turn Arounds and Performance Improvement | Construction Industry Transformation |
2 年Bravo Joe Langley All very logical steps for HSR to aid the progress of our nation. Lastly I’d add the environmental benefits from reduced c02 emissions compared to air / road travel.
Senior Design Professional High Speed Rail and Metro Rail Projects (Elevated &Tunnel)/ Design Management/Design Coordination, Dubai, Abudhabi.
2 年Saw her interview, Planning HSR in the East coast. Hope the project start soon.
A return to consultancy - fresh skills, new connections, and limitless opportunities!
2 年I feel like we have been here before!