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Building between two highly trafficked buildings that can make obscene money off the participants via uni fees or gambling makes sense. Presumably those people

Building between two highly trafficked buildings that can make obscene money off the participants via uni fees or gambling makes sense. Presumably those people are getting some value for their money and making that happen more accessibly is reasonable. I don't understand the logic that leads to corruption. There might be corruption there for sure, but I'm not sure that reasoning is evidence for it. Putting tram out to low traffic or density areas wouldn't make sense for your primary lines.

chii 7y ago
There are other heavily trafficked areas that doesn't have any investment. Esp the poorer western suburbs, with overcrowded trains and few busses. The tram and light rail investment benefits the property and businesses along the route, but the taxes are paid by the silent majority who derive little to no benefit.
- friendlybus 7y ago
  Yeah get those western suburbs solutions too! The second tram line can go there. I'm fairly sure casinos and unis pay taxes too. I can't get into this base politicking about public services in such a crass way. I was sure Australia was above this nonsense. Go talk to your local rep! Bringing up corruption over not placing tram lines where you want them, is for the Americans. I'm not so easily persuaded that our pollies are that dumb.
  - ajxs 7y ago
    Are you joking? Did you miss the fact that NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell dug his heels in and refused to sell Ausgrid infrastructure, then gets thrown out on a dubious corruption charge over a donated bottle of wine? From memory he denied this at first, then changed his tune and bowed out voluntarily. Only to be replaced with Casino Mike Baird who has a fire sale on public infrastructure. He presides over selling the poles and wires, the Westconnex debacle with the amalgamation of uncooperative inner-west councils, the Newcastle train line scandal, all the rest. Then just up and resigns before the end of his term after doing so many highly controversial deals. If you don't smell a rat in NSW politics you're clearly not paying attention.
    - friendlybus 7y ago
      >NSW politics I'll give you that. There's more rats in Aussie politics overall. Glad to see the back of Abbott and Barnaby is a parade of comical errors.
ajxs 7y ago
This is a good argument, except that the tram line itself is a giant white elephant for the taxpayer. I doubt I'll ever catch it, and I live in the inner city. The allegations of corruption follow from the fact that James Packer decides to build the already controversial casino in Barangaroo, a pokey, poorly trafficked corner of the inner city and then all of a sudden the government pours money into investing in public transport leading straight to the doorstep of the casino. The tram line literally terminates there. I doubt the tram line will benefit even 1% of NSW citizens, yet we footed the bill. It's even more of a lemon than Westconnex.
- friendlybus 7y ago
  >James Packer Both the Packer boy and the Murdoch sons seem to be lemons. Hopefully they improve with age...

chii 7y ago

There are other heavily trafficked areas that doesn't have any investment. Esp the poorer western suburbs, with overcrowded trains and few busses. The tram and light rail investment benefits the property and businesses along the route, but the taxes are paid by the silent majority who derive little to no benefit.

friendlybus 7y ago
Yeah get those western suburbs solutions too! The second tram line can go there. I'm fairly sure casinos and unis pay taxes too. I can't get into this base politicking about public services in such a crass way. I was sure Australia was above this nonsense. Go talk to your local rep! Bringing up corruption over not placing tram lines where you want them, is for the Americans. I'm not so easily persuaded that our pollies are that dumb.
- ajxs 7y ago
  Are you joking? Did you miss the fact that NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell dug his heels in and refused to sell Ausgrid infrastructure, then gets thrown out on a dubious corruption charge over a donated bottle of wine? From memory he denied this at first, then changed his tune and bowed out voluntarily. Only to be replaced with Casino Mike Baird who has a fire sale on public infrastructure. He presides over selling the poles and wires, the Westconnex debacle with the amalgamation of uncooperative inner-west councils, the Newcastle train line scandal, all the rest. Then just up and resigns before the end of his term after doing so many highly controversial deals. If you don't smell a rat in NSW politics you're clearly not paying attention.
  - friendlybus 7y ago
    >NSW politics I'll give you that. There's more rats in Aussie politics overall. Glad to see the back of Abbott and Barnaby is a parade of comical errors.

ajxs 7y ago

This is a good argument, except that the tram line itself is a giant white elephant for the taxpayer. I doubt I'll ever catch it, and I live in the inner city. The allegations of corruption follow from the fact that James Packer decides to build the already controversial casino in Barangaroo, a pokey, poorly trafficked corner of the inner city and then all of a sudden the government pours money into investing in public transport leading straight to the doorstep of the casino. The tram line literally terminates there. I doubt the tram line will benefit even 1% of NSW citizens, yet we footed the bill. It's even more of a lemon than Westconnex.

friendlybus 7y ago
>James Packer Both the Packer boy and the Murdoch sons seem to be lemons. Hopefully they improve with age...