ACT Light Rail Public Meeting - April 3rd, 2008

Lightrail in Canberra is an utterly absurd idea. Utterly.

1. It would cannibalise ACTION partially.
2. It would cost a hell of a lot to establish and run.

Gungahlin Belconnen City Woden Tuggeranong Lanyon. If the ACT government can’t afford all of it, then bring in business or the federal government, maybe?
It would create jobs, be good for the environment etc etc. There is an opportunity for somebody with money to invest. Though I wouldn’t want it to be 100% privately owned.

ACT light rail, I have learnt this is a town of vested interest and double speak. Also, no one in a position of influence ever really says what they think. Ever. While the responses are illogical, you are p####ng into the proverbial breeze with any notion there will ever be a light rail in Canberra.

@ bigred, i agree with caf, it makes no sense for the twu to be against light rail to protect bus drivers livelihoods when a light rail system would have to be backed up by a bus system, and i’m as for the idea that the cfmeu would be against a project that gains more work for their members; thats so ridiculos it doesn’t need debunking.
Hargreaves lack of support is more likely due to the fact that light rail is unnecessary and there are better uses for publis funds (schools, hospitals, statues of al grassby etc) than any union cartel forcing his hand.
Next time you want to union bash at least pick a target that makes some sense.

bigred: While the postured TWU suspicion of light rail has the ring of truth to it, I reckon they’re being a bit shortsighted there – after all it can’t be much of a leap from bus driver to tram driver, and if light rail was going to be popular enough to be worth building, it should increase overall bus patronage (even as it decreases it on the intertown routes).

As for the CFMEU, surely building rail lines is just as good a job as building roads?

if only canberra had a few heavy hitters like eddington to advocate real mass transit in the capital.

Proove it ACT Light Rail

Big-Red

Thank you for your comment.

Interestingly though, what you indicate doesn’t represent the nature and content of discussions that occurred when members of the ACT Light Rail Executive met with Union representatives.

Hey Tom-tom, TWU have coverage over ACTION and back Hargreaves – hence his anti stance. CFMEU cover road builders. Just don’t waste your energy even dreaming a light rail will happen in this town while that cartel is in charge.

An electric powered light rail system combined with increased deployment of green power would decrease carbon emissions.

With “being green” being fashionable right now, the right marketing would make this very popular