Region. Local man worked on Christie report

Alex Gooding, a former executive director, of the lobby group, the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) was an author of the Christie Report, an independent report on Sydney’s transport plans, partly financed by The Sydney Morning Herald. “Extensive experience in research and advocacy involving transport needs in Western Sydney, plus qualifications in social studies and urban planning, have given him a unique insight into the complex relationship between land use and transport and the social, environmental and economic consequences for Sydney of continued under-investment in infrastructure,” the report noted. Mr Gooding was WSROC’s executive director for 12 years.

Parramatta Low job figures 'quietly' released

Parramatta’s CBD workforce growth has been dramatically reduced according to the Christie report into Sydney’s transport plans. The report states the government “quietly” released figures in December 2009, which now envisage only 11,000 additional jobs in the Parramatta CBD in the 30 years between 2006 and 2036. The government’s Local Environment Plan for Parramatta, in December 2007, forecast an additional 30,000 workers.

Milperra. Doubling turnover in five years

The family-owned Thomas Electronics of Australia Pty Ltd, at Milperra, aims to double its turnover its $24 million within five years by expanding markets for LCD displays it supplies to armed forces and commercial customers for use in cockpits, ships’ bridges and armoured vehicles More than three-quarters of the business is offshore. “We have become quite a success in export markets. For a small company to do that, well I have to pinch myself sometimes,” said MD, William Hutchinson, in the Weekend Australian Financial Review. The company’s main business areas are supply, design, repairs an other engineering support for electronic display systems for avionics, military, medical and other industrial applications.

Region. Premier considers Christie report

Premier, Kristina Keneally, has told the treasury and transport departments to study the recommendations of the 450-page Christie independent inquiry into Sydney's public transport. Shegave the strongest indication yet that the $5.3 billion CBD Metro could be sidelined to focus on heavy rail to the north-west and light rail in the city in her government's upcoming transport blueprint, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. Mr Christie argues instead of creating an entirely new public transport system, the government should spend $36 billion on capital investment in new rail, light rail, buses and just one metro over 30 years.

Parramatta. Jobs slashed. Metro deferred

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the Christie Report on Sydney’s transport plan uncovered 30-year forecasts, published in December by the government’s Transport Data Centre, which revealed the number of new jobs in Parramatta has been slashed by almost two-thirds from 30,000 to just 11,000 in the 30 years from 2006. The report supported the West Metro but said its construction should be deferred until 2020. The Urban Taskforce’s chief executive, Aaron Gadiel, said that the transport projects outlined in the plan would smooth the way for urban growth and renewal and should be examined by both the government and opposition alike.

Region. Ron Christie's transport plan

Sydney’s transport plan, prepared by Ron Christie and an independent expert team with the backing of The Sydney Morning, has urged an immediate start on two heavy rail lines: a $3.7 billion line, linking Epping station and Rouse Hill in the north-west; and a $1.3 billion line joining Glenfield station to Leppington in the south-west. Other lines include a $2 billion rail line from Epping to Parramatta via Carlingford, beginning in 2013; a $2 billion heavy rail line directly connecting Bankstown and Liverpool, beginning around 2017; and light rail lines, costed at about $600 million, based around the key centres of Parramatta, Bankstown, Lidcombe and Liverpool.