WHY OUR RAIL IS LIGHT YEARS AHEAD
Melbourne’s proposed new public transportation is the perfect reminder of why we need light rail … without it, we’re doomed to the deterioration of urban sprawl
LOVE it or loathe it, the light rail is our future.
Honestly, it’s hard to believe that people are still pushing back against public transportation – because the alternative is unthinkable. Just ask Melbourne. With the Victorian capital set to leapfrog Sydney as Australia’s biggest city by early 2027, the state is frantic to stop unsustainable urban sprawl.
The proposed solution is the Suburban Rail Loop project, which would link middle-ring suburbs – the villages housed between inner city and the outskirt, increasing both density and liveability.
“Unless plans to manage population and employment growth are supported by the right infrastructure, Melbourne remains at risk of ongoing unsustainable urban expansion, increasing congestion, flatlining economic growth and declining liveability,” says the SRL business case.
“Research indicates that increasingly more people prefer to live in a townhouse, semi-detached dwelling or apartment in a middle ring suburb, rather than a detached dwelling on the urban fringe.”
The construction of the SRL is tipped to spark a boom in jobs and higher density dwellings … a story strikingly similar to the light rail and the Gold Coast.
Melbourne may be far denser than our city, but when it comes to sprawl – we got there first.
While the bulk of the Victorian capital’s population has historically been condensed in the greater CBD, recent growth now means a geographic spread that our own 70km-stretch of city was born with.
While greater density may not be the Gold Coast dream, increasing our urban sprawl would be a nightmare.
And that’s the harsh reality that Melbourne is facing.
Victorian modelling shows that without significant changes such as the Suburban Rail Loop, half of Melbourne’s population is set to live in the “outer ring” of the city by 2056, up from about 45 per cent. In contrast, the middle ring will house 36 per cent of the population in 2056, down from 45 per cent.
“Ongoing population growth in the outer ring will mean that more people are living in areas with poor access to public transport. This means more people rely on private vehicles, adding to congestion,” the report says.
Essentially, it’s a compounding problem without a public transportation solution.
And that is why our city has to back the light rail.
Is it the best transportation link we could have chosen? The answer is that it doesn’t matter, because it’s what we chose.
Is it ideal for every resident? Judging by the hate pages on social media and yellow signs flapping around our southern suburbs, I’m going to say no.
But sometimes, we have to do what is right for the majority, not what makes everyone (or, more accurately, the minority) happy.
Without light rail, this city will be strangled by its own success.
Already our property prices are surging beyond comprehension due to demand (including from Melbourne itself), and already our roads are struggling to cope with the phenomenal growth that is only tipped to continue.
Is this growth ideal? To be honest, probably not.
But as the proverb says, you can’t stop progress.
Unless we hang up a “closed for business” sign, or allow prices to naturally exclude newcomers, we have to deal with the problem – before we become subsumed by it.
Without adequate public transportation (and that is the light rail), not just linking our neighbourhoods but encouraging higher density along its route, we’re doomed for urban deterioration.
And before the haters scream about high-rises, density does not have to mean skyscrapers. Sure those are the developments that steal the headlines – but what about the single family block in my neighbourhood that’s now home to a three-level triplex? It fits in just fine with the suburban landscape, while allowing more neighbours into our village.
We have to house people closer together, not further apart … otherwise, the environmental, social and economic costs would be more than we can afford to pay.
Besides, higher density does not have to mean high density, it just means making room for more. And the light rail will make sure that they’re connected to all of our city amenities and facilities.
Does it mean kissing goodbye to the great Australian quarter-acre dream? Yep. But that train has long left the station. And research shows that’s not the trip we want to take anymore … we want low-maintenance, walkability, liveability and connectedness.
Which is precisely what the light rail supports.
If we don’t take action now and service as much of this city as we can (looking at you, Gold Coast Airport), we’re only sacrificing the future of our city.
It’s hard to admit it, but it looks like we could learn a lesson from Melbourne.
Without light rail, this city will be strangled by its own success.