myopia endemic
Clearly, what Sydney does not have is a vision. There is no vision for what the city is going to be like in twenty or thirty years time. Hence there is a stagnation for thriving projects, wondrous development and infrastructure planning that could ensure Sydney's international competitiveness long into the future.
What Sydney lacks is an inspirational leader that does not let politics restrict their vision for this city. New South Wales needs someone like Jeff Kennett in Victoria that transformed Melbourne into the vibrant, classy and arty city it is today. We need someone who does not let the three-year election timeframe dictate policy. They also cannot be driven by internal party politics and be restrained by unions and pleasing the masses. Some decisions just need to be made. The future good comes from a little pain in the short-term.I have had a look at a UTS DAB Research paper that discusses what should be done in the next thirty years to fix this city's transport problems. It details a seemingly cost-efficient method to deliver up to 26 new upgrades to Sydney's system including an expansion of heavy-rail, delivering light-rail and metro systems and an expansion of park and ride facilities. The paper presents a totally new look on transport design not seen in Sydney. This is an example of visionary idealism that is required. What needs to happen is implementation.
Today, an article in the SMH details how an architect believes the design of this city is mediocre and unable to attract business and investment. I can agree wholeheartedly that we have some of the ugliest architecture in Australia. Please save me from the rectangular prisms and square windows that are being built all over this city. Where is the vision? Where is the architectural wonder or stylistic challenge in these buildings? It surprises me no less how fast the government reassures us that Sydney is still a marketable city that achieved top-5 in the a liveability survey. Did they forget that public transport makes me suicidal every day? This culture of rejection and denial is systemic. It is parasitic in the way it drains the arena for debate and discussion from this city. When will they ever stop and listen to the voice of the people? It frustrates me to hear defiance in Macquarie Street when clearly they do not understand the plight of people in George Street.
The Americans fought for their independence while we thought about it for 20 years before deciding to do it in 1901. Australians tend to think and debate for way too long. The thinking needless to say happens in closed doors within the luxury of parliament. What ever happened to open debate? We thought about building a second airport in Sydney for the last 50 years. We love to think. Usually what comes out of thinking is nothing. This kind of political inertia is an inherent obstacle to the development of this nation. Important decisions are continually being thought about without an end result achieved.
The NSW state government is an obvious example where selfish competing interests are just too important. The Labor party has too many self-competing interests which makes them inept in delivering what is needed for the greater good of this state. The incompetence of the coalition does not increase my confidence in the governance of this state by any margin.
No one likes to be blamed. I am not encouraging a blame game, but I want to see an end to childish bickering in Macquarie Street and a return to mature discussion and prompt decision-making. We need to forget about the past and stop working on short-term patch solutions to a sinking ship. A new ship needs to be built, and it needs to be built now. All politicians learn to do is point the finger. To get to the top, leaders have had to please too many people to become selfless in any respect. They are mere puppets. Useless. What we need is a single charismatic person not bound by authority to take over, or even to be the puppeteers. That seems like an impossible feat for a defective system of party politics in this state.
What a shame for a great city.
benny | Sunday, May 17, 2009 
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benny for premier!