Discussion The Random Discussion Thread

[George]

 

[StFly]

They won't build s**t. Those projects won't be completed any time soon. It's just a slow let down.

They did take almost 30 years to electrify rail, and did recently overland rail in that crossing removal scheme on a Bendigo freight line, so it can happen, it's just not quick. Similarly, it took about the same amount of decades to shift truck routes from sleepy town with rickety wooden bridges to main arterials around the Shep area, so again, it can happen just not quickly.

Then you have my situation where I have sat on meetings where metro flogs want access to wetlands, we want to kick them in the balls and punch them in the face, there's a stalemate, so it's not at all harmonious as scarred from previous instances where lol 500% pop growth, good luck was the response from them. So you know, our area rallied and turfed literally everyone that had a comfy chair back in ze day that we are now used to "sure up" swing electorates in the region.

North wise anyway it's a piss off country at your peril for anyone Melbourne centric, as many of us have shot guns, fought animals, tended land and otherwise are literal badarses working sleepy 9-5's. Like, I could and did legally drive stick at single digits as farmland rocks and stuff walking 3k acres for milk and then 3k back, use vehicles. Also why I stopped drinking said milk, lotta shit in the dairies.

 

[phantom13]

Just on the last paragraph, they need to do "something" in those areas if they ever plan to use them as the infrastructure is just not there to support it at present. Never has been and considering, probably never will be.

Oh yeh im not suggesting they do nothing im just noting that the bulk approval for whatever the cost was (call it a couple billion) would never happen if not for the fixed point in time event.

All gov departments get business cases on each piece of infrastructure and its cost and need. Theyre all assessed within a total budget. No doubt the “they’re still getting built/refurbed” comment will be walked back (they’ll scope cut to drop dollars) but it shouldn’t have ever been approved without the event is my point

 

[gringo2011]

Oh yeh im not suggesting they do nothing im just noting that the bulk approval for whatever the cost was (call it a couple billion) would never happen if not for the fixed point in time event.

All gov departments get business cases on each piece of infrastructure and its cost and need. Theyre all assessed within a total budget. No doubt the “they’re still getting built/refurbed” comment will be walked back (they’ll scope cut to drop dollars) but it shouldn’t have ever been approved without the event is my point

There are so many reasons not to build at the moment. My brother in law is an engineer who works in steel fabrication. The company he was working for went under because they were owed millions from one of the big construction companies that went under despite having legacy work teed up but the administrators wouldn't pay them.

He's at another place now and they are getting smashed by rising materials costs and power and exposure to some builders who are really just hanging on. It could go down at any time. The whole industry is shaky as ****. Trying to get a stadium built on time and budget would be impossible.

I have relatives near Rochester who got flooded out. They can't get their houses rebuilt because they have no tradies up there. Plasterers have 1 year waiting lists. They are living in portables. Even getting the insurance through is taking ages because they have no assessors.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

There are so many reasons not to build at the moment. My brother in law is an engineer who works in steel fabrication. The company he was working for went under because they were owed millions from one of the big construction companies that went under despite having legacy work teed up but the administrators wouldn't pay them.

He's at another place now and they are getting smashed by rising materials costs and power and exposure to some builders who are really just hanging on. It could go down at any time. The whole industry is shaky as *. Trying to get a stadium built on time and budget would be impossible.

I have relatives near Rochester who got flooded out. They can't get their houses rebuilt because they have no tradies up there. Plasterers have 1 year waiting lists. They are living in portables. Even getting the insurance through is taking ages because they have no assessors.

I have friends in Civil Engineering/Project management. Some of them actively avoid looking for work in Victoria, even though its where they came from.

 

[phantom13]

There are so many reasons not to build at the moment. My brother in law is an engineer who works in steel fabrication. The company he was working for went under because they were owed millions from one of the big construction companies that went under despite having legacy work teed up but the administrators wouldn't pay them.

He's at another place now and they are getting smashed by rising materials costs and power and exposure to some builders who are really just hanging on. It could go down at any time. The whole industry is shaky as *. Trying to get a stadium built on time and budget would be impossible.

I have relatives near Rochester who got flooded out. They can't get their houses rebuilt because they have no tradies up there. Plasterers have 1 year waiting lists. They are living in portables. Even getting the insurance through is taking ages because they have no assessors.

Yeh 100%.

Im lucky in that my current project was a GCS that was finalised early covid so a lot of the material cost impacts etc were factored into our total contingency.

My project is on budget (ive had to re forecast and report on this about 30 times in the last 9 months) but only because we had a fat contingency built in.

If state government didnt negotiate the cost increases so many commercial builders would be cooked (plus contractually we have to negotiate and act in good faith not just wave the contract in their face).

 

[phantom13]

I have friends in Civil Engineering/Project management. Some of them actively avoid looking for work in Victoria, even though its where they came from.

Get onto a consultant working with State Gov projects, especially as a civil engineer.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Get onto a consultant working with State Gov projects, especially as a civil engineer.

One of them is absolutely anal about bringing in projects on budget. The gov wouldn't like him. ( That's a joke ).

 

[Geary Is GOAT]

The Commonwealth Games discourse just feels so out of touch. Gerard Whateley has built a ladder on top of his high horse from which he's currently yelling about the humanity of it all as if the Hindenburg just exploded in front of him. Painful listening.

 

[gringo2011]

The Commonwealth Games discourse just feels so out of touch. Gerard Whateley has built a ladder on top of his high horse from which he's currently yelling about the humanity of it all as if the Hindenburg just exploded in front of him. Painful listening.

I'm already bored of it. I didn't even remember it was coming up.

 

[George]

I'm already bored of it. I didn't even remember it was coming up.

I put that down to boomerdom however

 

[Pakenhamsaint]

I was going to say ive never ever seen a professional miss a hurdle by that much, im not sure ive even seen an ammo.

FWIW reading a bit more about it last night...

Seems like Vic Gov pulled the pin based on the regional hubs model blowing out in cost, which makes alot of sense if youre familiar with the current construction climate but it also seems like the CGF and a number of other parties made suggestions to either abandon (or significantly decrease) the regional hub focus and use existing fit for purpose facilities.

If the Vic Gov has abandoned the games without considering viable alternatives then that is s**t.

In addition to that if they are still pledging to complete the venue upgrades without the event, that doesnt seem like a particularly wise use of taxpayer funds. Generally venue upgrades like this go on a submission/review basis (we all remember Gladys approving a bunch of stuff for the bloke she was calling daddy). Bulk approvals like what was done for the Comm Games is only ever done for something like... the Comm Games and could absolutely be a probity and process issue if that event isnt being done anymore.

I suspect it was looked at and that too cost a mint. Where do you put a couple thousand athletes in Melbourne? How much does it cost to upgrade current venues to have competition standard facilities?

These days no-one wants the Com games. No-one else is scrambling to take it up. With interest rates going up Governments aren't wanting to stimulate as readily and are starting to nail the coffers closed.

All major events around the world will be suffering similar fates. Unless it's Abu Dhabi or Rihad bidding on them there won't be a lot of takers.

Even the Olympics aren't wanted. Countries and cities are realizing it's a money sink for not much return.

 

[gringo2011]

I put that down to boomerdom however

Boomers are the only ones that can remember when the Com games went to Queensland back in the day and someone won a swimming race against a bunch of barely solvent countries that used to belong to Britain and the Poms who are borderline special needs when it comes to sports. It's like bashing an anaemic vegan beating them at anything.

 

[The Cobra]

Taylor, Waugh & Haddin

After 2 Tests it’s way too early to drop Warner

After 3 Tests it’s too late to drop Warner

After 32 tonight he should be right for the next 6 Tests.

The bloke is shot - stats dont lie. Hasnt scored a 100 outside Australia for 6 years

 

[Pakenhamsaint]

Taylor, Waugh & Haddin

After 2 Tests it’s way too early to drop Warner

After 3 Tests it’s too late to drop Warner

After 32 tonight he should be right for the next 6 Tests.

The bloke is shot - stats dont lie. Hasnt scored a 100 outside Australia for 6 years

The NSW mafia keep him in.

 

[George]

 

[George]

 

[Geary Is GOAT]

Taylor, Waugh & Haddin

After 2 Tests it’s way too early to drop Warner

After 3 Tests it’s too late to drop Warner

It's absolutely painful to listen to.

A lot of cricket analysis gives off the same energy as that scene from Money Ball where you see the old scouts not wanting to draft guys because they throw funny or look weird.

Can't drop Warner because two tests apparently isn't enough for a new opener to get into a 'rhythm'. Would love to know what sort of 'rhythm' they think Warner is currently in.

 

[Dard Ball Get]

 

[George]

He single handedly saved democracy as we know it

 

[George]

 

[PoppedCorn]

 

[pebblesofsand]

This is both a scary and incredible piece of advertising

 

[SaintsSeptember]

This is both a scary and incredible piece of advertising

Its clever, there is a physical gap between males and females in sport which means that they can't compete against each other, ( for example there is known and researched difference in average running speed ), but that doesn't affect the skills in association football. The spectacle can be the same.
Speed can't be seen, only relative speed can be seen.

StKilda's midfield would look positively zippy if all those others weren't quicker.

 

[phantom13]

I suspect it was looked at and that too cost a mint. Where do you put a couple thousand athletes in Melbourne? How much does it cost to upgrade current venues to have competition standard facilities?

The athletes villages are millions not billions and are easily re used (Dan announced a couple bil in public housing today that will be a drop in the ocean for that problem anyway). Plus you can still have the villages in the burbs or close regions, the stadum upgrades and infrastucture costs were the blow out.

Plus if the reports are to be believed GCF and others made the suggestion to keep it in Melbourne and use existing and the Vic Gov said "Nah we like the regions and weve costed them, not even entertaining the Melbourne option"... IF you believe that.