Sydney’s opportunity for easy connectivity has been wasted

Planning should be the No.1 feature of good state government, and on that factor, successive NSW governments have failed us (“Unplanned urban sprawl puts suburbs in gridlock”, May 4). The Northern Road, basically Campbelltown to Penrith or the Hume Highway to the Great Western Highway, was redeveloped over several years from about 2018. It includes the Western Sydney International Airport along its route and new towns are springing up – Oran Park, Harrington Park, Bradfield. But the road has been built with an enormous number of traffic lights, in some areas every few hundred metres. The intersection with the M12 has traffic lights, not cloverleaf on-off ramps. Designed from the start to cause traffic back-up.
In the largely greenfield area through which it was built, it could have had many intersections and it could have been much better designed. A wasted opportunity.
A Metro route from Western Sydney International through Liverpool to Kingsford Smith is obvious on a map but, instead, let’s force people to wait for the Metro to St Marys, where they will shift to heavy rail to go through to Central. Huge missed opportunity. And how about the missed opportunity for a Metro or rail link from Campbelltown to Penrith, via Western Sydney International? An opportunity to build an above-ground, i.e. less expensive, modern rail link to provide transport for hundreds of thousands of future residents. Opportunity ignored. Our governments fail us. Steven Lee, Faulconbridge

Is it any wonder that the good residents of Riverstone are up in arms about transport and having to drive to Tallawong metro station? When my grandfather lived at Rouse Hill, he used to walk across the paddocks to catch the train at Riverstone. The railway line from Blacktown to Richmond is one of the oldest lines in this country. So why was the new fast railway not carried on to Riverstone to make that the head of line? It goes beyond belief. Clive Lucas, Neutral Bay

The debacle in the north-west shows the need to slow the growth of Sydney’s urban sprawl. Future population growth should be diverted to Newcastle and Wollongong, where higher density housing could be encouraged. At the same time, train links to the two cities must be improved. Tony Simons, Balmain

Over the past decade or so, transport planning for growth areas in Sydney’s north-west, at least at the political level, has been dominated by the availability of that supreme people-mover, the Metro. Insufficient attention has been given to how people can actually get to a Metro station or find somewhere to park. Nor is the Metro on its own able to meet the many transport needs of aspirational families moving to these suburbs. The solution of feeder buses is not going to work if the buses are stuck in traffic jams. Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills

My sympathies are with the Raj family and their lack of access to Tallawong. On Saturday, I hopped happily onto the Metro to Victoria Cross and then waited 40 minutes or more in the dark for a bus to Castlecrag. This suburb will shortly be swamped with residential towers. The developers’ feasibility studies maintain that traffic will not increase, as there will be more foot traffic. There won’t be foot traffic unless there are buses for those feet to get on and off. Shanks’s pony has its limits. Surely adding frequent bus services throughout Sydney is not that difficult, except that bus services don’t appeal to big business as there’s no real money to be made from them. Louise Bridle, Castlecrag

Grid and bear it

The editorial (“City’s growth beset by same planning woes”, May 4) illustrates several decades-old issues in one example. The Metro is good for Kellyville residents accessing work in the Sydney CBD. However, only 10 per cent of Sydneysiders work there.
The radial nature of our rail network limits opportunities to travel elsewhere, particularly north-south in Sydney’s west, forcing workers into car journeys on congested roads. As we did with the road network post-World War II, we must make additions to the rail network that give it a grid shape. If a station car park is congested, a grid-shaped network allows a destination to be reached from other stations. More people travelling by rail means less road congestion. Expensive road tolls in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane limit the use of these roads, and cause congestion on many non-tolled roads. We need the Commonwealth to buy the toll road companies and operate the toll roads for the entire community. Peter Egan, Adelaide (SA)

Which way out?

Charlotte Mortlock says Australians want bravery in politics, solutions and effectiveness (“Escape the left-right prison. What will make us better?” , May 4). She’s suggesting engaging industry and thought leaders who best know the flaws and opportunities in their fields. She also talks about unfairness and inequality. Our nation has just lost beautiful Kumanjayi Little Baby, who was born into inequality. This tragedy should make us reflect on having recently rejected the Voice to parliament.
This had been a brave plan aiming for solutions and effectiveness that did and would have continued to engage “thought leaders who best know the flaws and opportunities in their fields”. Lucy France, Cronulla

Charlotte Mortlock cannot hide her reactionary roots. I find most of her comment disingenuous. Mortlock fully supported the Liberal Party though its Morrison/Dutton years, so why the sudden epiphany? Has she ditched the Libs because their support is plunging? Mortlock says, “inequality is rife”, forgetting that the party she supported for so long has proudly institutionalised inequality and continues to do so. There is no mention of the need for social empathy, but then I expect that would be deemed too woke an idea to express. Mortlock decries “ideology” in politics. All political parties and movements accuse their opponents of being driven by “ideology”, as though they themselves are not. Judy Hungerford, Narraweena

The “wage-poor” have been on a “hamster wheel” since the 1980s, when the neoliberal economic system was embraced so enthusiastically by both our parties of government.
It is a design flaw that was always going to lead to widespread dissatisfaction. Piece by piece, that system needs to be dismantled, perhaps by Charlotte Mortlock’s radicals, perhaps by others. Greg Baker, Fitzroy Falls

We thoughtful Australians try to vote according to the candidate and party who/which genuinely intends the best for our country. This is what causes us angst at this time: the Nationals, the Liberals and One Nation are obviously beyond consideration because of their egregious records and their present conduct. Labor is becoming beyond consideration because it comprises politicians, most of whom appear more interested in their ongoing employment than the welfare of Australians. No one from any of the parties, with the marginal exception of the Greens, appears to care about their constituents. What to do? The only choice left for most of us is to vote independent.
I guess we are reduced to climbing aboard the “blame the Boomers for everything” movement, so popular with younger generations at present. I am a pre-Boomer and I know this is erroneous, so it is very confusing. Ian Usman Lewis, Armidale

Say no to AUKUS and warfare

Better minds than mine have said “No” to AUKUS (“Japan subs floated as AUKUS fallback”, May 4). What’s not to understand? Subs are overcrowded, smelly, highly fraught undersea “rockets” that – already – have been superseded by drones. I mention “smelly” as I’m sure no naval woman would be able to cope with that environment. I come from a naval family and, back in the day, my father called them “cloistered coffins”. I’m sure if he were still alive he’d also say no to AUKUS. With Australia’s debt of $34.3 billion, the money could be better used, not thrown away to a shonky “partner” who is likely to swallow it up without coughing up. Invest in partnership in this region. Not warfare. Deni McKenzie, Armidale

The Plan Bs are now being discussed widely re: AUKUS, and rightly so. Even the Liberals have suggested back-up plans with billion-dollar stealth bombers to cover the time gap when we will have virtually nothing. Remember, they were the ones who signed us up for what will be seen in the future as the greatest spending debacle in our history. Now defence experts are suggesting talking to the Japanese about subs, and the French are still evidently interested. It is time to cut and run from AUKUS and perhaps for Scotty from marketing to admit that he made a huge blunder. Philip Dowle, Wickham

The latest submarine deal looks to be underwater. French subs, American and now Japanese. Ah well, third country lucky. Paul Doyle, Glenbrook

Cycle of menace

Cyclists and e-bike riders continue to menace pedestrians on footpaths. They don’t seem to know or care that it has long been illegal to ride on a footpath in NSW, or that this behaviour has resulted in deaths, serious injuries and countless near misses. After experiencing a few close shaves you begin to think twice about a walk to the shops, let alone a stroll in the park. The state government is reported to be introducing new safety laws this year. Let us hope these will include a regulation requiring all cyclists to have a number plate affixed, back and front, to their vehicle. Or, perhaps, a helmet showing a large, registered number. This would enable a pedestrian with a smartphone to photograph lawbreakers and email the evidence to the police. The independent MP for Pittwater, Jacqui Scruby, has introduced a private member’s bill calling for e-bike licences. The new safety regulations will be introduced in August. Ava Hubble, Pyrmont

Inspirational Ramsey

If ever we needed some positive news, there it was in the form of Cody Ramsey, who came on as a replacement for the Roosters in their weekend game against the Broncos (“Tough run launched remarkable comeback”. May 4): a fellow who has had the whole of his large colon removed because of a dreadful condition, spent seven months in bed and went down to 62kg from 90kgs. He had been out of the game for four years plus. He is back to play through the genius of doctors and his own determination and willpower. It’s all in your head, he has said. I’m sure the rugby league community and everyone who knows his story wishes him every success. Congratulations to the Roosters as well, for giving him an opportunity. Also to his previous club, St George, that supported him along the way. Stewart Copper, Maroubra

Left out at the movies

A list of the best Aussie movies (Letters, May 4) that doesn’t include one starring Broken Hill-born Chips Rafferty? How could you leave such a thespian out off the list? And what about some of the Dad and Dave movies by Ken Hall? I think I’m showing my age. Reg Richardson, Mosman

In 50 great Australian films you could not find room for Bran Nue Dae? Not even for the music? The sheer rollicking fun? The hidden story? The actors? The skill of director Rachel Perkins? The inclusions? Nola Tucker, Kiama

Mum’s the word

My mother was a lovely person but also a difficult one (“How the ‘empty chair technique’ helped Steve forgive his dead mother”, smh.com.au, May 4). Many’s the time I walked on eggshells around her. In the last two years of her long life she suffered mild dementia, which took away all her prickliness. When she died I asked the funeral home if I could sit with her awhile, and in that simple half-hour I spoke to her about the eggshell times and forgave her for them. When I left I had a new appreciation for my mum. Genevieve Milton, Dulwich Hill

Voice of pain

Julia Baird is 100 per cent correct about the rejection of the Voice emboldening those hostile to Indigenous voices (Letters, May 4). It inflicted a deep wound to the Indigenous people, a wound that will take a long time to heal and leave a scar that lingers forever. Unless, of course, we have the courage to heal it. Do we? Mike Keene, Mollymook Beach

It’s highly unlikely that racism and hate in society will ever be eliminated entirely. With so many cultures and religions forming biased opinions, and centuries of hate embedded in certain groups, we seem to be fighting a losing battle. Legislation may help, but a change in attitudes is proving a major hurdle. Denis Suttling, Newport Beach

Economy Boom

Your correspondent (Letters, May 4) is the first to explore the significant positive contributions Boomers make to the economy in retirement. As an ageing cohort, it is not just the employment created in retirement villages but also the initial investment and continuing construction positives. Then there is the home care industry, where Boomers are creating additional employment, followed by the restaurant and services club industry, where Boomers are enjoying spending their hard-earned “wealth” dining out in the middle of the day and playing the pokies. Then there is the health industry itself, where additional services lead to increasing employment opportunities for the Gen Zs. Hairdressing, physiotherapy and home delivery services, following driver’s licence cancellation, and the manufacturers of mobility aids add to the list of positive contributions ageing Boomers continue making to the economy. Bruce Clydsdale, Bathurst

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