Solutions like problems are not always as they appear – sometimes you have to look beyond the forest for the trees, writes Greg Warren.*
Former CEO of Apple John Sculley stated in key note speech to Harvard business graduands: “The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious.’’
As a parallel to this statement, in the heart of my electorate Narellan Road links Campbelltown to Camden, serving as a primary connection to the Hume motorway for the two developing areas; along with the root cause of frustration for many motorists.
This heavily congested road is our “obvious’’ and merely represents our far broader road network issue in a funnel like manner that sees the northern and southern developing areas of the region compact into a singular arterial in the centre.
Narellan Road also symbolically represents the unfortunate nature of an existing political culture where some politicians take a populist position based on a short term solution to appease the vocal.
Fuelled by fear of electoral retribution, public representatives advocate for a short term fix to “appear’’ to be solving the matter that tends to result in not much more than a photo opportunity – this comes at a cost and a lost opportunity to potentially provide an actual strategy that delivers a broader solution with long term connectivity and subsequent economic productivity.
We must acknowledge not only the obvious benefits of reducing congestion, but also the economic benefits that forward planning brings in the form of increased productivity.
I am both personally and professionally averse to interim approaches and inward focused positions and believe in the importance of standing by the courage of our conviction – particularly in the face of adversity.
The Spring Farm link road and access to the Hume connecting through to Appin is vital as a southern connection solution (SCS) for the developing Greater Macarthur Land Release (GMLR); whilst connecting Gregory Hills Drive to Badgally Roadd is an essential (not sole) piece for the north.
The rail overpass connecting Badgally Road and Broughton Street and the east to the west of the city, must not be overlooked as part of a broader connectivity master plan.
Eagle Vale Drive’s progressive upgrades are well under way as part of the northern connection solution (NCS), however I foreshadow a volume driven bottleneck at the Raby Road/Eagle Vale Drive intersection with a flow on affect for the north bound access to the Hume Motorway.
Connectivity is also not maximised with the absence of a south bound exit from the motorway to Raby Road and as a consequence not maximizing the full potential of upgrades that are under way whilst forcing congestion further down towards the city.
Ultimately, congestion relief is best addressed from the hot spot backwards – that is, the Eagle Vale Drive upgrade would be more effective had works began from the F5 and progressively installed from a “Raby Road Interchange’’ back towards Badgally Road.
The shortfall of other areas of capital investment that indirectly and adversely affect connectivity are often overlooked.
This is primarily driven by an inconsistency between investment and demand, in short, urban population growth is outpacing financial contribution from government.
Campbelltown station car park is commonly full by 6:30 every morning discouraging rail as a means of travel and encouraging more people onto already congested roads.
The Baird government’s promise of a 450 car park space upgrade at Campbelltown station is noted as is the lack of budget allocation to date.
The consequences of indecision have immediate and lasting effects that stem far further than the infectious attraction of the procrastinators and the populists. Whilst the worst decision ever made is the one that’s not, the second worst is one that is made to appease.
George Canning was Britain’s shortest serving Prime Minister, having died in office after just 119 days; in one of his final addresses to the house in 1827 he said: “Indecision and delays are the parents of failure.’’
Whilst the tenure of Canning was short lived, the relevance of his analogy lives on and is as consistent today as it was then.
*Greg Warren is the State Member for Campbelltown.
♦ Contributions to the Comment column are welcome. Email erickontos@southwestvoice.com.au
