ajsadauskas

cross-posted from: https://aus.social/users/ajsadauskas/statuses/112121946640090153

Waverley Park — Melbourne's car-dependent suburban AFL stadium with a planned seated capacity of over 150,000 (not a typo!)

A really good run down by @philip on the plans by the AFL (and its predecessor, the VFL) to build the world's largest stadium in outer-suburban Melbourne.

Unfortunately, a planned railway line past the stadium to Rowville was never built. That meant a massive 25,000-spot car park as the only real means to get there.

While most of it has been demolished and redeveloped for housing, the oval itself still used by Hawthorn Football Club as a training and administration centre.

https://youtu.be/LvvLwiRCx4s?si=x2QvxepgPtBtJZfx

@fuck_cars #AFL #Urbanism #UrbanPlanning #cars #stadium #stadia #Melbourne #sport #footy #football #stadiums #history #Victoria #VicPol #Australia #planning #Hawthorn #AusPol #CarBrain

cross-posted from: https://aus.social/users/ajsadauskas/statuses/112105256146111201

Sydney has opened up consultation on a strategy to reduce car traffic and make the city more walkable

"Driving in central Sydney will become harder under a plan to make the city more comfortable for pedestrians.

"The City of Sydney wants to narrow roads for wider footpaths and push for lower speed limits to discourage drivers from the CBD and transform Sydney into a walkable city.

"The council will also install more pedestrian crossings and prioritise people over cars... five times more pedestrians than motorists on the average street, yet just 40 per cent of road space is allocated to footpaths."

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/greener-safer-calmer-the-plan-to-discourage-drivers-from-central-sydney-20240312-p5fbr7.html

Some key points of the strategy are:

We will ensure that there is sufficient space for people to walk.

We will improve connectivity for people walking by ensuring there are frequent street crossings that give people priority and that align with people’s walking routes.

We will ensure that footpaths and crossings are accessible so that everyone can use them.

We will plan our city based on 10-minute neighbourhoods so that people are able to meet their daily needs easily by walking.

We will make it safer for people to walk by reducing vehicle speeds.

We will reduce traffic volumes on surface streets and manage through-traffic in residential neighbourhood streets to improve both safety and experience for people walking.

We will work to make all people feel safer while walking around our city.

We will work to improve compliance with road rules, especially the lesser-known rules that benefit people walking.

We will make our streets and public spaces comfortable and inviting by ensuring that they
are green and cool.

We will make sure that there are frequent opportunities for people to stop and rest, use the toilet or have a drink of water.

We will make our city more pleasant to walk in by reducing noise and air pollution from
traffic.

We will make all streets interesting to walk along by ensuring that built form has active, permeable frontages that invite engagement and curiosity.

We will use design, activations and installations to create neighbourhood-based community and encourage people to interact with their streets.

Full details here: https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/policy-planning-changes/your-feedback-walking-strategy-action-plan#strategy

Unfortunately, the car-brained leader of the local business lobby isn't on board:

"Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou welcomed efforts to make the city pedestrian-friendly... But Nicolaou said it was difficult to see how making Sydney a predominantly walking city would benefit businesses such as retailers."

(Worth repeating that 80% of people on an average city street are pedestrians, so it already is a predominantly walking city.)

Anyway, if you think the plan's a good idea, make sure you let the Sydney City Council know by emailing sydneyyoursay@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

#urbanism #UrbanPlanning #Sydney @fuck_cars #walking #walk #walkability #nswpol #auspol #nsw #planning #cities #UrbanGreening #city #cities #australia

Some interesting takes here on the AFL's crackdown on dangerous tackles, and the issue of concussions.

Adelaide 118 to 62 against Carlton in front of a packed Adelaide Oval.

With Gather Round, all nine AFL matches in round nine are being held in Adelaide. And with all the matches selling out, the AFL is looking seriously at coming back next year.

SA state premier Peter Malinauskas discusses Gather Round in Adelaide, with all round five matches being held in Adelaide.

"SYDNEY coach John Longmire has urged for speculation surrounding Patty McCartin to cool as the key defender deals with another concussion that is threatening his career.

"Speaking on Wednesday afternoon, Longmire revealed that 19-year-old midfielder Corey Warner, the brother of Swans star Chad, will debut on Friday night against Richmond."

"ESSENDON defender Mason Redman and Port Adelaide forward Charlie Dixon are among a group of just seven remaining unsigned restricted free agents this year.

"The AFL released its official list of 100 free agents to clubs on Wednesday, which followed AFL.com.au revealing its list earlier this year, with the bandings of restricted and unrestricted free agents communicated to clubs.

"Qualifying for restricted free agency means the players are entering their eighth or ninth seasons at their respective clubs and are in the top 25 per cent of their club's earners. It also allows their holder clubs to match a rival's free agency bid on them and force a trade if they choose under the rules, whereas unrestricted free agents can walk to rival suitors."

"Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has come clean on the eyebrow-raising noodle and chopstick sign his team used during the Easter Monday clash against Geelong.

"The sign that was held up to the players from the sidelines baffled Channel 7 commentators and fans alike, with many a wild AFL theory emerging on social media."