Weekly News
- Government Drops Billion-Dollar Tunnel Project! Northern Beaches Tunnel Vision Crumbles Due to Budget Constraints
- Temporary Visa Holders Skyrocket by 730,000! Labor Party’s ‘Expansive Australia’ Worsens Housing Crisis
- Housing Ingenuity: Australia Addresses Housing Dilemmas by Repurposing Abandoned Office Buildings
Government Drops Billion-Dollar Tunnel Project! Northern Beaches Tunnel Vision Crumbles Due to Budget Constraints
Minns Government Officially Abandons Highly Anticipated Northern Beaches Tunnel Project
The Minister for Roads has announced the official abandonment of the much-anticipated Northern Beaches tunnel project, citing the $10 billion expenditure as ‘irresponsible’ decision-making.
The original plan for the Northern Beaches tunnel was to extend from Cammeray’s Warringah Freeway to Balgowlah, bypassing the traffic-congested Military Road and the Spit Bridge with its opening and closing mechanism. The Labor Party has long advocated for the cancellation of this tunnel project, with budgetary pressures becoming the key determining factor.
Roads Minister John Graham stated that both the New South Wales Transport Authority and the Australian Infrastructure Authority supported the decision to cease further construction of the tunnel. Given the state’s debt levels, we consider continuing with the tunnel at this stage to be irresponsible. As a result of this decision, green spaces scattered across the North Shore and Northern Beaches regions have been preserved. These green spaces were initially earmarked as diving points during the construction phase, including the Flat Rock Gully trail in Willoughby.
John Graham continued, ‘The decision to cancel the Beaches Link Road construction has preserved the Flat Rock Gully trail. However, it is now too late to save 26 properties, with 23 homes having been acquired by the New South Wales Transport Authority during the joint government’s tenure. These properties will become government-owned, and the $1.5 billion allocated for acquisition and planning will not go to waste. We must protect the properties along this corridor and plan for the future, and the government is actively engaged in planning efforts. But this does not mean we need to spend $10 billion right now.’
Following the cancellation of the tunnel plan, the government will conduct a comprehensive network traffic assessment to evaluate traffic flow in the region.
However, Manly Councillor James Griffin expressed disappointment on behalf of local residents and tourists, accusing the Labor government of “governing by postcode.” There were high hopes for the Northern Beaches tunnel, with the expectation that it would alleviate the daily traffic congestion issues in the area. He also warned that without progress in infrastructure development, further development in the region should not proceed. This, he argued, is a decision disaster for the Chris Minns government, detrimental not only to those residing in the Northern Beaches but also to those wishing to enjoy the beaches during the summer.
The government has pledged to complete the ongoing construction of the Western Harbour tunnel and supports the upgrade of the Warringah Freeway.
Temporary Visa Holders Skyrocket by 730,000! Labor Party’s ‘Expansive Australia’ Worsens Housing Crisis
Since the Albanese government came into power, the number of temporary visa holders in Australia has surged by a staggering 730,000 people. This includes international students, working holidaymakers, and holders of COVID-19 pandemic-related work visas, marking a historic high.
Official data reveals a significant surge in Australia’s temporary visa holders, with their numbers growing by 730,000 since March last year, reaching a record high. This increase encompasses international students, working holidaymakers, and COVID-19 pandemic work visa holders, contributing to a pressing housing shortage issue alongside soaring property prices.
Among these temporary visa holders, the most substantial growth was observed among students and recent graduates with an additional 418,000 people. The total increase also includes 108,000 additional working holidaymakers and 101,000 holders of COVID-19 pandemic work visas, although recent government actions have aimed to terminate the latter due to concerns about misuse.
In March of this year, the federal government received a report from former Victoria Police Chief Christine Nixon, warning about the misuse of student visas. This report exposed collusion between unscrupulous visa providers and disreputable intermediaries, facilitating visas for students and potentially involving them in criminal activities.
Opposition spokesperson for immigration, Dan Tehan, contends that despite the government’s claims of not pursuing a “Big Australia,” their actions suggest otherwise. Under the Labor Party’s leadership, the numbers of temporary visa holders, international students, and failed asylum seekers have all reached record levels, exacerbating Australia’s housing crisis and rental shortages.
In response, Minister for Immigration, Andrew Giles, highlights the Labor Party’s commitment to addressing the immigration system’s previous shortcomings. He also underscores the Liberal Party’s fluctuating stance on immigration, advocating for more immigrants one day and fewer the next.
Housing Ingenuity: Australia Addresses Housing Dilemmas by Repurposing Abandoned Office Buildings
Experts suggest that converting abandoned office buildings into residential apartments could be a solution to address Australia’s housing crisis. A renovation project costing $125 million has already transformed the former headquarters of Australia Unity Insurance in Melbourne into a 15-story retirement village, setting an example for builders in Melbourne and Sydney to follow.
In these former office spaces, each two-bedroom assisted living apartment is expected to be priced between $615,000 and $2 million.
Kath Evens from the Property Council Australia believes that this development will encourage builders in other states and local governments to think outside the box and consider repurposing abandoned office buildings for different uses. Current property owners may also be interested in this opportunity to rethink how to utilize these properties, providing a genuine chance to address numerous issues.
Many office buildings in Melbourne, Sydney, and Queensland have the potential to be converted into residential properties.
A project at 338 Pitt Street in Sydney is expected to receive approval, with plans to construct nearly 600 new apartments and 158 hotel rooms, adding more residential properties to the city.
The estimated cost of this building project is approximately $6,300 per square meter. Compared to constructing from scratch, the cost of demolishing existing structures and rebuilding is $6,800 per square meter.
Outside the CBD, there are also many office buildings that can be repurposed into residences, with the highest commercial vacancy rates in areas such as Crows Nest, St Leonards, North Sydney, and Parramatta.
Architect Jessica Lee stated that reintroducing residential use and injecting diversity into our cities would undoubtedly be a positive development.