Red_Rattler
Since 09 May 2003
Note to moderators/administrators: Although these articles do deal with politics, they are mainly about a developer attempting to get rid of a vital piece of rail line infrastructure, so I believe that the politics mentioned are relevant to a train line issue - and let's face it politics IS a subject of real rail or tramways.
EDIT ADDED 15:03 Tue 14/10/2008: For those interested, their is a poll on the website in the link, that asks which is more important to Newcastle's CBD, a rail line or retail. They are both as important as one another.
Related articles in the article link itself: http://www.theherald.com.au/news/lo...risk-to-newcastles-grand-revival/1332367.aspx
Forget to mention that one contributer to a radio program beleives that the rail line should be removed - because it's "ugly"!
A Railway Digest book said that this rail line is valuable to developers. For example what was known as the Royal Newcastle was pulled down, and now flats/apartments are being built in place of it.
Note the first paragraph (um isn't that blackmail??) but also note the wording in the article: “Community input on removing the rail line will be sought” instead of “Community input on removing or retaining” the rail line will be sought”
EDIT ADDED 15:03 Tue 14/10/2008: For those interested, their is a poll on the website in the link, that asks which is more important to Newcastle's CBD, a rail line or retail. They are both as important as one another.
Related articles in the article link itself: http://www.theherald.com.au/news/lo...risk-to-newcastles-grand-revival/1332367.aspx
Forget to mention that one contributer to a radio program beleives that the rail line should be removed - because it's "ugly"!
Heavy rail a risk to Newcastle's grand revival
BY JACQUI JONES
13/10/2008 11:37:00 PM
A $650 million plan to redevelop Newcastle's central business district could be in jeopardy unless the State Government commits within the next five months to cutting the inner-city rail line at Wickham.
Developer The GPT Group said yesterday a risk analysis of its proposed retail, entertainment and residential precinct around the Hunter Street Mall, Newcomen, Perkins and King streets, showed that a heavy rail line through the central business district was a "significant barrier" to its success.
It has employed urban design and planning group Civitas to prepare a master plan to indicate how the city could be redeveloped if the rail line was cut at Wickham Station.
The concept, presented yesterday at a Newcastle City Centre Taskforce consultation meeting and to Newcastle City Council last night, shows the former rail line converted to a green corridor, new road connections running north to south between the harbour foreshore and Hunter Street, and new development on the waterfront.
Bus and possibly ferry services would connect commuters from Wickham to Newcastle.
Retail project director Philip Heaney said the State Government needed to indicate its in-principle support for cutting the rail line and improving connections between Hunter Street and the waterfront. GPT estimates it would cost the state and federal governments about $160 million.
The company would also like a time frame for the work and a co-ordinating body to oversee it.
If the commitment is not made by the time GPT's board meets in February, the company is unlikely to proceed with its project. It believes the investment is not viable while surrounding areas of Newcastle are in such poor condition.
If an agreement is reached, ideally the line's removal would coincide with the planned 2012 opening of the development, which is tentatively titled Hunter Central.
Community input on removing the rail line will be sought.
GPT also believes keeping the city's legal precinct in the East End is essential. The State Government has suggested that the precinct, which comprises courts, barristers' chambers and law firms, could move to the West End.
"We think it would be an absolute nail in our coffin for those to move," Mr Heaney said.
These and other considerations for the city's future, such as how to revitalise Hunter Street and what to do with the rail line have been much-debated but never resolved. Mr Heaney said years had been spent discussing Newcastle's future, with various levels of government producing planning documents and studies for the city.
Now was the time for action.
"We do believe Newcastle's formally at the tipping point now in terms of which way it will go," he said.
"It will always be a great place to live but can it attain world class outcomes, which we believe it has the potential to.
"If there's a catalyst for Federal and State Government to get together there's never been a better one that I've seen really."
Mr Heaney said Newcastle's CBD and West End were run down, had poor amenity and disgraceful presentation. Sections of the city were disconnected, others unsafe at times, public transport was lacking and there was no reason for people to visit.
Meanwhile, Honeysuckle was burgeoning under the guidance of Hunter Development Corporation.
"It's a tale of two cities," he said.
Conditions in the CBD and West End needed to change to make major investment feasible.
"If you look at what's there today no one puts $650 million in and hopes it works," Mr Heaney said.
Mr Heaney said state and federal funding for improving connections between the harbour and Hunter Street could be administered by an authority such as Hunter Development Corporation.
The money would pay for a Wickham transport interchange, removing the rail line corridor between Wickham and Newcastle and replacing it with a green corridor, revamping Hunter Street and creating a public realm at Market Square.
GPT believes government investment of potentially $160 million would pay dividends, with economic flow-on worth $410 million and create about 880 direct jobs and up to 2493 flow-on jobs.
The company estimates its project, which is worth about $650 million in 2008 terms, will cost about $707 million by 2012 when it is scheduled to open.
It would generate about $1.977 million worth of economic activity, 4242 direct jobs and 12,019 indirect jobs, GPT estimates.
Once Hunter Central is operating about 2129 direct jobs and 2131 indirect jobs would be created.
A total of up to $8 billion of economic activity could flow from proposed private and government investment, the company believes.
"We think there's a very compelling economic reason for it," Mr Heaney said.
"This is really about a community in waiting. There's just so much potential and desire for these things to happen."
Mr Heaney said he expected to report to The GPT Group board in February on where the Hunter Central project stood.
"That could go either way depending on the level of commitment," he said.
"We're really pushing hard to get support of all levels of government."
The $650 million Hunter Central was "the largest single investment GPT would have made anywhere," Mr Heaney said.
A Railway Digest book said that this rail line is valuable to developers. For example what was known as the Royal Newcastle was pulled down, and now flats/apartments are being built in place of it.
Note the first paragraph (um isn't that blackmail??) but also note the wording in the article: “Community input on removing the rail line will be sought” instead of “Community input on removing or retaining” the rail line will be sought”
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