Ross, i get heartily sick of your dreaming on property development.

Here's an update on reality.

Out here in the real world of plunder and straight forward official obstructionism, there are sufferers aplenty.

In the last week alone, two acquaintances ( unknown to each other), complained to me of a bill from local council for fifteen thousand dollars, for a DA applicable to the installation of one extra sewer point in an existing building.

The local NFP fishing club was stung for twenty thousand dollars to renovate an existing boat ramp of very basic type.

Does the above example ring an alarm in your head Ross, as to where the real issues are?

Normal functioning people living in a real world, can't cope with this official rorting of the system by a corrupt officialdom given the nod to make the rules as they go.

Forget your dreams mate, it's the nightmares that cry out for attention.

Dan

"Let's take a hypothetical example of an outer suburban or regional business district which has seen better days. Picture plenty of 'For lease' and 'For sale' signs – some of the signs old enough to warrant a heritage listing in their own right."
Common sense might imply that maybe, just maybe, this is because there are enough already there. Not, it seems, to this Ponzi scheme supporter.
Just what we need, more real estate destruction.

Yes Ross, we have many levers! And could, should we want, print the money we need for this or that BIG project!

Trouble is, those who lead us understand politics, maybe? But not fiscal realities and what they can, as our representatives,do with it!

Can't think past debt and deficit and how big that is already!

The one big project we need to crack on with is, rapid rail!

And just resume what is needed as a mile wide corridor. NOW TODAY!

Then start building a VLT inside that corridor. CAN"T DIED IN A CORNFIELD A CENTURY AGO!

Then rezone land around the new stops, as urban development.

Then when the train is up and operational, sell some of that land to new real estate and housing.

Could be kick started with a quite massive roll out of public housing. Funded by the same instrument.

N.B. Can't be used to support recurrent spending!

The east coast corridor is the world's third busiest and will be again as soon as we beat covid-19.

In the interim, we can test all workers weekly with the new blood test, which produces results in 20 minutes. And ensure the camps are locked down until the bug is beaten!

That way we can get all the healthy back to work and productive. And have a project which was/is paid for with our own credit instrument!

And entirely off budget.

When complete? The debit side of the ledger is more than offset by the assets's completed value!

The only requirement, is, the asset must appreciate in value and earn a quid. And it will if the fares are cheaper than airline travel!

Those who work will need to pracice all the protocols when off covid-19 free sites. Or risk quarantine in an offshore quaratine station!

The recovery/economy requires a healthy workforce working! And supporting all the restarted service industries!

Don't just do something, stand there.
Alan B

Footnote. We need to send more of our interstate freight by rail. Given, it can be loaded and unloaded on pallets. Then delivered on those same pallets.

A train may replace a dozen or more interstate trucks, which will still need to carry the freight to and from the station. A train only needs two-three drivers and a guard.

The guard's wagon could be a sleeper/exercise gym/crib room, replete with a bathroom, so that nobody need disembark? But stay onboard intil a new train is assembled for the return. At which time a new crew would relieve them?

Drivers relieving the others at scheduled intervals!

That way, we further minimise the involuntary spread of the infection by the Asymptomatic! Which could be any interstate truck driver?
Alan B.

I, for one, won't get a goodnight sleep until they do a big canal from carpentaria to the lake eyre

progressive pat,
Is that an attempt at irony? 'Cos if your sleep really depends on such an expensive, unnecessary and environmentally destructive project, you've chosen a misnomer!