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Page 11 of 14 pages : significant questions (jump to page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14) :
Access to port assured : “The City of Albany has moved to reaffirm its commitment to unlimited, 24/7 freight access to Albany Port. Albany Mayor Milton Evans said false claims that truck access would be limited were creating a mischief. The only change in prospect for grain and woodchip road trains is a likely 40 kmh speed limit through the waterfront precinct, which has already been discussed at length with transport operators, Mr Evans said. Apart from that it will be business as usual, both before and after construction of the ring road. Mr Evans said claims of limited port access might have arisen from confusion with another issue. This involved the possibility in the future of trucks accessing Albany’s business or industrial areas having to break down (road-trains) to single units before entering the city. A decision on that issue will not be made until the rest of the Albany ring road is constructed, he said. I emphasise that this has nothing to do with trucks entering the port and anyone who continues to make such claims is committing a mischief.” Mayor Milton Evans, City of Albany Article : AGS Weekender (Page 7), 16 Apr 2009 Regional Development Australia : “I refer to my letter dated 9 April 2009 concerning your Rainbow 2000 proposal. The Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government (the Department) has reviewed this material which appears to be a very comprehensive examination of a range of regional planning and infrastructure issues facing Albany and the Great Southern. I can advise that the Australian and Western Australian governments are currently working together to establish Regional Development Australia (RDA), which will build on the existing Area Consultative Committee network. RDA will bring together all levels of government and local community representatives to support the growth and development of regional Australia. It is the Australian Government’s intention for the Western Australian RDAs to be set up by 1 July 2009.” “A key role of the RDA network will be to contribute to the development of regional plans including, for example, to develop strategic regional plans. RDA will become the principal driver and voice of development and infrastructure for regions, communities and government. RDA will also have a strong community engagement role, bringing together stakeholders and communities to develop solutions to regional needs and priorities. These new arrangements will facilitate a more integrated strategic approach to regional planning, ensuring those communities, the private sector and governments can develop local solutions together.” The Hon. Gary Gray MHR, Federal Minister for Regional Development Letter : 15 May 2009 Corridors of power – Western Australia : “The Western Australian Government has committed itself to a range of planning and development assessment reforms. At a Property Council event in June the Minister for Local Government, John Castrilli, said the government will amend the Planning and Development Act and table regulations to introduce regional development assessment panels. The Minister acknowledged the Property Council’s assertions that there is too much involvement by elected members with the development assessment process in local governments. The planning reforms will complement the government’s structural reform of the local government sector, including amalgamations of unsustainable local authorities. The Property Council is participating in the government’s Planning Reform Industry Reference Group, which is driving the planning reform process, and will use this opportunity to promote key Development Assessment Forum principles, including a more risk-based development assessment process and extensive use of development assessment panels.” Hon. John Castrilli MLA, Minister for Local Government Article : Property Australia (Page 48), 17 Jul 2009 Rallying the troops for centenary : “Albany needs to ‘lift its game’ to be ready for the 100th anniversary of troops leaving for Gallipoli, according to the Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL). After a City of Albany steering group meeting on Friday, Albany RSL president Laurie Fraser said they had called in professionals to organise Anzac services in preparation for the November 1, 2014 celebrations. The City has set aside a fund of $70,000, plus an additional $10,000 in every budget until 2014 for the event, and has plans to attract a range of VIPs and navy ships. The event will kick off celebrations for the 2015, 100th anniversary of the Anzac landing. We are changing quite dramatically how we do Anzac Day, starting next year, Mr Fraser said. People will be bussed in from designated pick-up points, there’ll be projection screens and a different layout and we’ll project it (the dawn service) down to the Residency Museum, and hold a gunfire breakfast for the public.” “Traffic and risk management hadn’t really been taken into account … so we’ve brought in more specialists instead of relying on volunteers so it’ll be far more professional. We’ve always worked within our means and done a good job but we’ve got to step up the pace and get our act together in so little time. Mr Fraser said calling in the State RSL was a ‘quantum leap forward’ in making the event world class. The troops leaving from Albany is the uniqueness of Albany, he said. We will improve and historically, the numbers of people attending are ever-increasing – this is an icon event for Albany. City of Albany Mayor Milton Evans said the City would work the community and relevant stakeholders to ensure the event surpassed expectation. All stages of the Anzac Peace Park and the restoration and upgrade of the Mt. Clarence memorials should be completed before 2014, he said.” Laurie Fraser MBE, President, Albany RSL Article : Albany Advertiser (Page 5), 18 Aug 2009 |
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Centenary of Great White Fleet : “It started in 1908! The bonds of friendship between the Western Australian public and the US navy goes back much further than you think On 11 September 1908, sixteen American battleships under the command of Rear Admiral Charles Sperry, dropped anchor in King George Sound to give 15,000 US sailors and marines the opportunity to stretch their legs in Albany and meet a few locals.” “The original concept for an event in 2008 to celebrate the centenary of the visit to Albany by the Great White Fleet was developed by Brad Williamson, CEO of the Albany Port Authority. Following an approach by the Port to the US 7th Fleet Command and the Australian Navy, the idea grew into an Australia-wide celebration of the original visit by the Great White Fleet, with US and Australian Navy vessels visiting Sydney, Melbourne, and Albany as they did in 1908. Ships which took part in the Albany visit were USS Shoup (guided missile destroyer), HMAS Darwin ((long range escort frigate) and HMAS Sirius (tanker / auxiliary oiler).” Brad Williamson, CEO, Albany Port Authority Extract : Annual Report 2008-09 (Page 21), 06 Nov 2009 Issues associated with the Albany Seaport – “The Albany port is an asset of critical importance to economic development in the Great Southern region. The total tonnage of commodities traded through the port is expected to almost double to five million tonnes per annum by 2014/15, with the main increases being in grain and woodchips (no mention of the proposed Southdown Magnetite project which would double the export tonnage again). To achieve the objective of accommodating this growth in trade and ensuring the continued viability of the port, its infrastructure needs to be developed and its functions protected. The ALPS Strategy recommends the preparation of a port development plan by the Albany Port Authority, in conjunction with relevant government departments, to investigate land and infrastructure requirements, plan strategically for any future expansion and ensure that possible impacts from port activities on adjacent land uses are minimised.” “It is also recommended that local planning schemes and strategies identify appropriate buffers around the port and incorporate special control areas with provisions to prohibit incompatible development. Protecting access to the port is a major issue given the forecast increase in regional freight. Optimising the balance between road and rail access is considered particularly important. Actions relating to road access are focussed on realisation of the Albany ring road concept (detailed in separate studies), intended to facilitate the unimpeded movement of heavy vehicles to and from the port. It is recommended that top priority to be given to constructing the east-west link of the ring road between Chester Pass Road and Albany Highway (construction of Albany Ring Road Stage 1 was completed in April 2007). Other actions include the introduction of measures such as structure planning and land use / development controls to minimise potential conflicts between heavy freight routes and adjacent uses, and implementing the noise mitigation measures recommended in the Albany heavy freight access study.” “The Strategy strongly advocates placing a greater emphasis on the rail network to move freight to the port. Recommended actions include investigating alternative options to encourage the transfer of road freight to rail and evaluating their costs and benefits, and planning for additional rail infrastructure to improve rail capacity. Transferring freight to rail via an inter-modal transfer facility at Mirambeena (industrial estate), and locating future industrial land and new grain receival points next to existing rail infrastructure, are also recommended. The Strategy supports the City of Albany / State Government initiative of establishing a boat harbour as part of the Albany waterfront project, on the proviso that it does not have an adverse impact on the port’s operations and freight access. The proposed development, located in Princess Royal Harbour, would incorporate a range of maritime, tourism and commercial uses and is considered to have the potential to contribute commercially and socially to the City (not to exclude the relationship with the CBD and Tourism Precinct).” Issues associated with the Albany Airport – “The Strategy emphasises the importance of the Albany airport to the regional economy and aims to ensure its continued efficient operation. It is noted, in particular, that there may be a need for the airport to accommodate larger aircraft in the longer term, with the servicing of passenger and freight movements to the Antarctic a possibility. Planning at the local level should acknowledge the potential expansion of the airport and protect its operation from encroaching urban development through recommended measures such as noise/safety buffers and special control areas specifying appropriate maximum building heights. The Strategy also notes that opportunities exist in the vicinity of the airport to develop related commercial activities, such as flight training schools. It is therefore recommended that land in and around the airport be appropriately zoned so that complementary commercial uses can be established.” Albany Activity Centres Literature Review, Shrapnel Urban Planning Extract : Appendix B11 (Page 38), 30 Dec 2009 Next page or Download a print version of ALL the statements? |
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Rainbow 2000 © — a Regional Planning Strategy for Albany & the Great Southern, Western Australia |
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Albany, Western Australia
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