COM: Glenelg Tramline Upgrade

[Ben]

I didn't think it would last long... From "The Advertiser"

Council questions tram plan

JESSICA LEO


THE locations of almost 70 trees earmarked for removal as part of the State Government's $31 million tram extension were revealed at an Adelaide City Council meeting last night.

With work on the controversial project set to begin last night, members of Adelaide City Council questioned why several plane trees on footpaths along the route also needed to be sacrificed.
Anne Moran said attention needed to be paid to the Government's proposal, which involves "replacing" rather than "relocating" several mature trees.

She specifically questioned why 13 trees on the south side of North Tce and another 22 in Victoria Square needed to go.

"We can't just keep opposing it. They are patently going to carry out the tram extension, but with so many trees being removed, we have to ask why there are so many, particularly those on the footpath," Ms Moran told The Advertiser before last night's meeting.

"I think the real reason, and we may never get told this, is they are narrowing the footpath on North Tce because of the traffic congestion that would result otherwise. But that goes completely against our definition of a boulevard . . . a tree-lined street with wide footpaths."

Lord Mayor Michael Harbison also expressed concern about the fate of the trees and said he would move to ensure the new tram stops along the extension route would have "real-time information" for passengers.

"We are keen that the trees are protected wherever possible and any trees that can be practically relocated be relocated," he said.

The Opposition's transport spokesman, Martin Hamilton-Smith, yesterday said the removal of the trees and inadequate consultation with businesses along the extension's route were drawbacks of the "completely unnecessary project".

Ahead of last night's council meeting, Mr Hamilton-Smith urged members to do whatever necessary to minimise the environmental impact of the tram extension.

"We strongly object to the project (the tram extension) and would encourage the council to minimise the tree removal damage," he said..

Last night, preliminary works on the project got under way. Major works are scheduled for April.

[bdm]

Who cares? Aren't we currently in the middle of yet another million-trees program through the city... what an absolute joke.

The Advertiser is just a complete and absolute joke of a newspaper. If only they made its paper softer so I could use it in the toilet.

[Tyler_Durden]

I'd like to know exactly how this crappy 1.6km extension is meant to bring more people into the city? I am assuming that none of you have to drive through that area in the mornings because I can tell you right now with a tram line through the middle it'll make it one frustrating journey.

Do you not see the irony of this comment? A tram carries up to, what, 80-100 people? A car carries up to 4, but in reality that number is 1 or 2.

To transport the same number of people as one tram does down the middle of King William Street you would need 40 plus cars.

Think about that and then think about what the real is the real cause of congestion.

I suspect the real reason some people are against the trams is due to their selfish attitude and the belief that their environmentally unfriendly petrol guzzlers deserve an uninterrupted right of way through the middle of the city over every other mode of transport. Thankfully the government is giving no credence to this stupidity.

By the way work officially started on the project overnight.

[Will]

[Howie]

ah yes you saw that pic too.. i was tempted to caption and photoshop it, but realised i didn't have to.

[Pistol]

Most of the trees on the southern side of North Terrace and that one that Captain Bonehead is hugging are actually sitting on the road. I am really surprised that they haven't been removed before this as a benefit to public safety.

[UrbanSG]

This is a classic! What did I say on the last page or 2 pages back about the Advertiser most likely running daily stories on disruptions and NIMBY's being chained to trees soon, this is almsot spot on How boring and predictable. This wouldn't even get media attention in the other big cities. I am really getting over it fast, thankfully construction will be fairly quick. I couldn't stand this crap for more than a couple of months, that is even too long. It shows just how desperate and pathetic the Liberals are in this State.

[Pistol]

I just watched a story on the Channel 10 news about how work has started and it had an interview with Anne Moron saying how she was opposed to any trees being removed for this project and hence she was against the project (predictable). But then they revealed at the end of the story how these trees are going to be removed anyway for the extension of the North terrace upgrade to this area. And this has been approved by the ACC!

Anne Moron really has no clue does she! Hopefully more and more city residents realise this and make sure she does not get re-elected in the upcoming council elections.

[Will]

One of the hysterical doomsday claims made by the anti-tram coalition is that the tram extension will cause 'traffic chaos'.

The reality was published recently in the City Messenger.

There was a small article, where it stated that the RAA, after conducting their own investigation, has found that the tram extension will have a minimal impact of motorists. The RAA said that drivers would notice "a small increase" of travel times along KWS and North Terrace.

[Al]

One of the hysterical doomsday claims made by the anti-tram coalition is that the tram extension will cause 'traffic chaos'.

The reality was published recently in the City Messenger.

There was a small article, where it stated that the RAA, after conducting their own investigation, has found that the tram extension will have a minimal impact of motorists. The RAA said that drivers would notice "a small increase" of travel times along KWS and North Terrace.

The distance we're talking about is 1km at most so if people are so concerned about the extra time it might take to travel 1km, take a different road! Geez.

[Algernon]

If they want a quick and efficient way to traverse king william street they can catch the fucking tram.

[Ho Really]

If they want a quick and efficient way to traverse king william street they can catch the fucking tram.

For those that use King William Street and North Terrace to transverse town, it's of no use. I think North Terrace may be more of a hassle than KWS. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against trams or light rail, I support all systems of transport as long as they are sensible (and environmentally friendly).

Cheers

[Froggy]

Froggy you clearly only get your facts from the Advertiser.......
Worthwhile opponents at least know a thing or two about what’s happening.

99B bus will be discontined.

Tom and the other person who said I clearly get my facts from the advertiser. The only paper I buy is the Sunday Mail for the TV guide so you are both quite clearly wrong, ever heard of independant thought?

What's wrong with a monorail? If we made a monorail like Sydney's we could connect all of Adelaide and O'connell street with an efficient service, I think it's an excellent fit for Adelaide - but again like the Tram stuff it's an opinion. It's not my fault if the Advertiser shares the same view.

[Froggy]

If they want a quick and efficient way to traverse king william street they can catch the fucking tram.

You guys keep spouting this but it makes no sense? You have to get to a point to get on it, then you have to wait for it to come then use it to go only up and down king william street, it's far quicker just to friggin walk hence no point for a tram. Plus, ever thought lots of people need to go beyond where the tram goes or at right angles to it. FFS it is not a quick and efficient method of traversing king william. Today I walked from North Terrace to waymouth st in about 3 or 4 minutes...

[Froggy]

I'd like to know exactly how this crappy 1.6km extension is meant to bring more people into the city? I am assuming that none of you have to drive through that area in the mornings because I can tell you right now with a tram line through the middle it'll make it one frustrating journey.

Do you not see the irony of this comment? A tram carries up to, what, 80-100 people? A car carries up to 4, but in reality that number is 1 or 2.

To transport the same number of people as one tram does down the middle of King William Street you would need 40 plus cars.

Think about that and then think about what the real is the real cause of congestion.

I suspect the real reason some people are against the trams is due to their selfish attitude and the belief that their environmentally unfriendly petrol guzzlers deserve an uninterrupted right of way through the middle of the city over every other mode of transport. Thankfully the government is giving no credence to this stupidity.

By the way work officially started on the project overnight.

So what you are saying that if you go to work and you go up north terrace and then along king william street, you need to find someway to get to the end of north terrace so you can get on the tram and then go up and along king william street so you can get off the tram and ten find the rest of your way to the office... do you now see how stupid your comment is. People driving in to work are not going to suddenly use the tram when the 1km is a small fraction of their journey so your whole analogy is just plain stupid.