A COMMON criticism of politicians is their vision is restricted to the next election.
There is some truth in this as politicians cannot fulfil their agenda if they do not win elections. However, the vast majority of politicians would like to believe they will leave a sustainable legacy, to be considered visionaries.
The most notable attempt at a visionary approach in Canberra at the moment is the proposed Canberra Metro, the ACT light rail.
The vision is a more sustainable city with an effective, low-carbon transport system. The debate is whether or not this is the right time and how much should be spent for the most effective way to deliver on the vision.
Simon Corbell, the responsible Minister, presents the view of the government. It is heavily influenced by a Greens agenda. The government argues that the best way to achieve the vision is through the establishment of a light rail system starting with linking Gungahlin and Civic.
The Liberals argue that the government is not being frugal enough. The vision for a more sustainable city from a transport and environmental perspective is in conflict with the vision of an economically more sustainable Territory that runs surplus budgets.
It is possible to manage both. However, there is a more significant issue than just light rail in planning a sustainable city.
The second phase of Canberra’s planning, the introduction of the “Y Plan”, sought to ensure that there would be enough employment in all the town centres to reduce uni-directional commuter traffic heading to and from the central business district.
The failure of the planning system in allowing construction of office buildings at the airport and the construction of the (yet-to-be-occupied) spy building in Campbell are just two illustrations of where the system has failed.
A rapid public transport system can assist in compensating for these failures.
The Liberals have also been arguing that the transport vision can be met at a more appropriate time and that improving bus services is a much more financially sensible solution for now.
However, political risk provides the path to better outcomes for a visionary project and the government is prepared to take a risk on Canberra Metro.
Risks always provide an opposition with fuel for criticism. The alternative option for the Liberals would be to present a more visionary approach. Instead of suggesting further building on the bus system, they could advocate for a faster, futuristic, more flexible system with less running costs and one that was environmentally at least as sustainable as light rail.
One example is the personalised pod system that runs on magnetic levitation technology. The “SkyTran” system, for example, could have people coming to the city from Gungahlin in driverless, car-sized pods in a fraction of the time light rail would take. A SkyTran system would be suspended on standard-sized telegraph poles. It allows express pods to bypass the ones that might stop at Mitchell and Dickson providing a much more flexible and rapid solution. And this is just one option.
After no change, the minimalist change approach is the easiest to argue. It is not hugely visionary to adopt the systems that are used in so many other cities to achieve more sustainability. However, that is the challenge of those who seek to leave a sustainable legacy.
Apology to Australasian Association of Convenience Stores
ON September 3 “CityNews” published a claim by columnist Michael Moore that the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) is a front for big tobacco. AACS chief executive Mr Jeff Rogut has since written to us pointing out that AACS is not an arm of, nor does it lobby for, the tobacco industry. “CityNews” did not intend to suggest either of these things, and to the extent that any reader understood it to make those claims, “CityNews” apologises to AACS.
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