Food, Drink & Dining Out The Perth Thread - Part 2

[Billy ray]

Western power is profitable. Its the transmission and distribution network. Its synergy (the generator/retailer) that gets the subsidy. I have no problems with selling it.
They should also sell the perth mint.

 

[Forward Press]

It's officially Summer!

 

[Scotland]

You were the one assigning credit to the current government when the quay decision was questioned.
We have Richard court with his ridiculous bell tower and now Barnett with Elizabeth Quay - what a waste of tax payer funds all for the sake of legacies rather than practicality. At least the Perth Arena appears to be mocking critics and is attracting major artists and for opening tours to boot - I would say that is generating tourism moreso than the other two. If figures can be shown that show an increase in tourism for the other two then I'm more than happy to acknowledge their worth as well.

The boom started in about 2003 and peaked in early 2014 - plenty of time for a war chest to have been built or at least to have cleared the 3.5bil defecit the previous government left but instead the debt has increased substantially and Western Australia is staring down the barrel of a major recession and relief I think will be a long time coming.

He hasn't earnt the title of emporer Barnett for no reason and his contempt for people he supposedly governs is palpable. He banked on getting in to bed with abbot and Turnbull and it has backfired big time and it's us muggins now that's going to pay for it

Both parties need to start working together for a change for the good of the state rather than spending all their time blaming previous governments for **** ups. I have no faith in either of them TBH

No, I just listed public infrastructure works from the last decade. Elizabeth Quay is a lazy man's punching bag. State govt debt is $27b. Take out Elizabeth Quay and it's what, $24-25b?

 

[Jimmy_the_Gent]

I'm for selling Western Power based on the information I've seen so far.

What this boils down to is the government giving up about $160 million per year in dividends from WP (about half their annual profit) to no longer be directly liable for $8 billion dollars of WP debt.

This article has the quote:

"Accounting rules allow governments selling assets to shift any debt associated with that asset completely off their books — but only if a government ends up owning less than half of the new company. That’s why the Government will retain 49 per cent instead of 51 per cent."

That doesn't seem to be a bad deal to me.

With regards to price rises, there's this:

Acil Allen Consulting executive director John Nicolaou said power prices were capped by government regulation.

"Western Power is a monopoly asset and as a result it is regulated as are other monopoly assets around the country," he said.

"The ability for a private sector to charge monopoly rates is limited because of regulation and that doesn't change by ownership structure whether it's in government hands or private hands."

 

[Ljp86]

We also have the Mandurah Railway Line, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth Children's Hospital (nearly), Perth Arena, Perth Stadium (nearly), Perth City Link (nearly), Forrest Hwy, Freeway from Forrest Hwy to Burns Beach Rd, a 4 terminal airport with upgraded road access...

It's so easy to hate on Elizabeth Quay. The Vic govt probably spent more setting up Myki.

I have no issues with those, with the exception of the stadium but that's my opinion.

While the above is all well and good, more needs to be done. By the end of the next decade, Perth's population is estimated to be around 3-3.5 million people which is obviously quite a jump from what it is currently. Traffic congestion is getting worse and we need sustainable infrastructure around the city in order to transport the citizens we have now and also the people that will be here in 15-20 years time and beyond.

The 'mining boom' didn't start in 2008.

The Northern rail line was started under Labor and finished under Liberal and the Southern rail line vice versa, IIRC. Is it worth assigning credit? If Barney gets punted next year will the stadium, rail link etc become ALP wins? Govts waste money regardless of who is in power.

I can't think of a WA government who has wasted money as much as what our current government has. All I'm asking for (and I think there are a lot of people who feel the same way) is a plan on what sort of public infrastructure that is going to service Perth long-term in order to transport the population that this city is going to have and for it to be actually built. There is too much emphasis on both sides of politics only thinking about the next four years and how they can be voted in when the next election is held.

IIRC this was an issue at the 2008 election and since then there has been very little done with regards to long-term public transport infrastructure and planning, that's eight years of doing not much along with projects and plans either being delayed or scrapped. I think a lot of people have become frustrated with things such as Elizabeth Quay being built, a zoo being proposed, government debt rising very quickly when there are other things that are much more of a priority.

 

[Forward Press]

I don't understand why we don't have world class transport and education given the $$$ we raked in from the mining boom.

Now that it's over we have Elizabeth Quay doing jack shit and overcrowded trains and schools. The WA voting public get what they deserve, though - all about the short term with no long term vision.

 

[Smeg Head]

The Vic govt probably spent more setting up Myki.

One of lifes great mysteries how they ballsed that up. Smart Rider has worked pretty much fine for me continuously since 2004 or something.

 

[Scotland]

One of lifes great mysteries how they ballsed that up. Smart Rider has worked pretty much fine for me continuously since 2004 or something.

I get they might have had some teething troubles but the cost of introducing Myki was mind boggling. I looked into it a few years ago and the multiplier in cost from SmartRider to Myki was something like 100 fold or something absurd like that.

 

[Scotland]

I don't understand why we don't have world class transport and education given the $$$ we raked in from the mining boom.

Now that it's over we have Elizabeth Quay doing jack shit and overcrowded trains and schools. The WA voting public get what they deserve, though - all about the short term with no long term vision.

Perth is never going to have world class transport because it is laid out like a country town and has a population of 2 million. And the people building our roads, rail etc. get paid 6 figures, not $6 a day.

We also live in a country (not just state) that has no foresight. People vote for what benefits them now and governments spend money to stay in government.

 

[WCErevival]

What do people want to see happen with transport?

I think they are still going ahead with the airport train line which is overdue.

 

[Scotland]

I have no issues with those, with the exception of the stadium but that's my opinion.

While the above is all well and good, more needs to be done. By the end of the next decade, Perth's population is estimated to be around 3-3.5 million people which is obviously quite a jump from what it is currently. Traffic congestion is getting worse and we need sustainable infrastructure around the city in order to transport the citizens we have now and also the people that will be here in 15-20 years time and beyond.

I can't think of a WA government who has wasted money as much as what our current government has. All I'm asking for (and I think there are a lot of people who feel the same way) is a plan on what sort of public infrastructure that is going to service Perth long-term in order to transport the population that this city is going to have and for it to be actually built. There is too much emphasis on both sides of politics only thinking about the next four years and how they can be voted in when the next election is held.

IIRC this was an issue at the 2008 election and since then there has been very little done with regards to long-term public transport infrastructure and planning, that's eight years of doing not much along with projects and plans either being delayed or scrapped. I think a lot of people have become frustrated with things such as Elizabeth Quay being built, a zoo being proposed, government debt rising very quickly when there are other things that are much more of a priority.

The real problem is the bolded. Too many just accept this will and should be the case. Perth's infrastructure is crumbing under the population we already have, the govt is in debt and the govt budget in deficit and people are worried about lack of forward infrastructure planning? If we actually funded health, education, infrastructure etc. ahead of time for a population of 3.5 million govt debt would be into the hundreds of millions within a handful of years. Transperth is loss making as it is, more services to sparsely populated areas is only going to add to that.

There is a fair bit of development going on around Burswood, East Perth etc. which for once isn't just endless urban sprawl of 500 sqm blocks but other than the new rail station and footbridge for the stadium is any new public infrastructure going in?

Perth needs to follow the lead of its housing market and play catch up. Houses are still expensive for most people but they've stopped going up and up and up which means people can actually save deposits and not have their value eroded away by inflation. The city needs to maintain a population then work to adequately service that first. Consistent population growth and urban sprawl just makes everything worse.

 

[Scotland]

What do people want to see happen with transport?

I think they are still going ahead with the airport train line which is overdue.

Connecting the airport by rail, yes. Not sure how that will look with the 4 terminal arrangement but the principle is valid.

Ellenbrook, LOL. Shouldn't have even built Ellenbrook let alone suggested connecting it by rail.

North/South lines should stop at their current termini. If we keep adding stations every 5 or 10km North then we'll just end up with more and more and more suburbia and more inefficient PT services.

Govt needs to allow development around new and existing transport infrastructure that encourages sustainability. I'm sick of hearing about NY, London, Singapore - wherever and how frequent the PT services are and how extensive the networks are. People need a dose of reality.

 

[Kram]

Recently I went for a drive out to Gnargara for the first time in a few years to get some Pekin eggs to hatch and then drove around back through near Ellenbrook to Mildland on the way home to the country. Was shocked to see the amount of random ugly housing sprawl out that way.

 

[CakeEater]

Recently I went for a drive out to Gnargara for the first time in a few years to get some Pekin eggs to hatch and then drove around back through near Ellenbrook to Mildland on the way home to the country. Was shocked to see the amount of random ugly housing sprawl out that way.

Bit of an ironic typo there Kram?
Dont think anyone who is a Perthite would call Midland mild.

But on your point- Im not really surprised that stretch of land is cluttered with ugly uniform housing given its built by developers for first home buyers wanting the Aussie dream. Its also happening North & South of Perth as well.

 

[WCErevival]

Govt needs to allow development around new and existing transport infrastructure that encourages sustainability. I'm sick of hearing about NY, London, Singapore - wherever and how frequent the PT services are and how extensive the networks are. People need a dose of reality.

Yeah a lot of people dont realise we are fairly small population wise compared to those big cities. NY has 8.5 million people and its in a much smaller area than Perth metro. There wont be any major changes to PT.

 

[Off The Couch]

It's not the fault of the people living out there. The government approved the developments so them and the developers have some responsibility to provide infrastructure to the area. You can't just make your money and run - needs some accountability

 

[ioppolo]

Anyone heard of Whitby?

New estate suburb, 20 minutes north east of Baldivis, 20 minutes out of Byford, which is already almost 20 out of Armadale.

Ridiculous

 

[Forward Press]

Perth is never going to have world class transport because it is laid out like a country town and has a population of 2 million. And the people building our roads, rail etc. get paid 6 figures, not $6 a day.

We also live in a country (not just state) that has no foresight. People vote for what benefits them now and governments spend money to stay in government.

Don't disagree that with Perth's population density it is impossible to have a NY/Tokyo style system for public transport. But with the money we were raking in it would've been a worthwhile venture to throw money at - eventually Perth will gentrify and we are already seeing a shift to higher density living, and although it may never be profitable or cheap at least it's something good to have and that we should be happy to cop a loss for it.

 

[Scotland]

Don't disagree that with Perth's population density it is impossible to have a NY/Tokyo style system for public transport. But with the money we were raking in it would've been a worthwhile venture to throw money at - eventually Perth will gentrify and we are already seeing a shift to higher density living, and although it may never be profitable or cheap at least it's something good to have and that we should be happy to cop a loss for it.

I'd argue we have thrown money at it, though. The Joondalup line opened in the 90s, the Mandurah line in 2007. There's 2/5 of our rail network and nearly 2/3 of rail passenger numbers. The airport has changed dramatically and a lot of major roads have been upgraded. It's far from perfect but it's not like the state sat on its hands and invested nothing into transport infrastructure.

Govt expenditure only goes so far, and as the population growth helps fuel the revenue pie the outgoings follow suit. When state revenue growth is offset by GST reduction it doesn't help, either.

Of the money we raked in that has been spent, what shouldn't have been spent and what should that money have funded?

 

[WCErevival]

Roads are always being upgraded too

 

[estibador]

Just got this:

 

[gaskin]

Shocking that the car was stolen with the kid inside but the question has to be asked, why was the kid in there alone?

 

[Biggie]

Yeah estibador - my entire office got that same text.

Really feel for the mother & father, they must be absolutely besides themselves right now.

 

[Biggie]

Shocking that the car was stolen with the kid inside but the question has to be asked, why was the kid in there alone?

I believe mum was unloading presents into house, left the car on with aircon as kids was asleep?

 

[Keys]

Shocking that the car was stolen with the kid inside but the question has to be asked, why was the kid in there alone?

I've left my kid alone in the car sleeping with the engine running and aircon on before because they've fallen asleep and you don't want to wake them