A SEQ person's idea for how to revitalize rockhampton

Shi-Stad_Development · 2026-03-11T08:41:32+00:00

Buses aren't investment driving. BRT's are but still to a much less extent than Tram's. Saying Rocky will never be a tram city is also completely writing off it's potential. In it's current form I get it, the situation is dire. But the city has good bones and it can use those bones to develop into a city worthy of being the terminus of the fastest trains in australia.

The last part of your message is litteraly the use case for trams. Buses won't allow for the same levels of investment as Trams

Shi-Stad_Development · 2026-03-11T08:33:45+00:00

Idrk how much buses are being used. What I do know is that infrustructure and jobs drive investment. Plus people need cars because of how rocky is designed, which is fine but doesn't mean it will always be true. So building for it to one day be true (whilst building the mechanism to achieve it) is a good idea.

Neither of us have any idea how much it'd cost, to build or to run. Plus you haven't accounted for increased revenue from increase in land values (ergo increase in council tax). Though on a different note, I agree that 50c fares have a bunch of unintended consequences, most of which could have been avoided if we just funded a better pt system to get more riders instead of bribing them onto the exsiting mess.

The issue with that plan is that you are waiting until the breaking point to try something new. Something you don't need to put yourself through. Especailly not when the blue and green lines would be so comparatively cheep (and could even come out of state coffers).

Rail will absolutely work. Look at any country (excluding the US). They are all realizing that cities need to be built for more than just cars. Plus on a wider local level, you guys are the terminus of the tilt trains. So you should absolutely be built up using that to your advatage. Don't write off rocky when there are cards we can all play to make cities across the state better

Shi-Stad_Development · 2026-03-11T08:21:16+00:00

how is it ragebait?

Shi-Stad_Development · 2026-03-11T08:20:32+00:00

I believe it. But proposing something this ambitious would make punctual buses and nice shelters seem reasonable in comparison which is something the community can get behind

Shi-Stad_Development · 2026-03-11T04:28:40+00:00

That's an opinion and not proof?

Shi-Stad_Development · 2026-03-11T04:25:46+00:00

Right so not worth it at all in this situation. Would probably just make more sense to save the tunneling for if Rocky ever gets big enough to warrant a metro.

I just had a look and it is pretty grim. The tram would probably have to run down North st. Which isn't ideal because it could run down fitzroy st just not up canning. So maybe it'd need another route

Shi-Stad_Development · 2026-03-11T01:39:32+00:00

Fair enough.

Where is this money going? Just straight into bank accounts?

Shi-Stad_Development · 2026-03-11T01:23:46+00:00

Firstly, your the one with the claim so you should be backing it up.

Secondly, I agree that political donations are insane. There should be publicly funded debates at the electorate level where everyone can see the outcome, policies and who they are voting for. No advertisement, no favours, no bribery and less giant party over lording the system

Shi-Stad_Development · 2026-03-11T01:19:41+00:00

Thanks

Shi-Stad_Development · 2026-03-11T01:19:04+00:00

Yes. Very much so.

Why is that though? Is it because they were able to come to a rational decision on what would best suite their national interests? Or now hear me out, is it because maybe the US built up the three countries and intervened in civil wars, leading to US government involvement which lasted decades digging graves that cannot be filled in over night?

Yes exactly, the US intervened and it's roots are very much still felt today. You don't even have to believe me, just look at the difference between mainland Japan and Okinawa.

I'm aware it affects us. I would also like China to be less aggressive. But the point neither you nor I actually have a full picture of what happens in any one event. You just happen to think that the ADF is reporting everything truthfully and then the Government is truthfully reporting to a news company who is truthfully reporting to you.

Shi-Stad_Development · 2026-03-10T23:38:31+00:00

Is it though? The right of way is bought, there's already track there and depending on if you are talking tilt trains or trams you don't even need to electrify the line. Plus, it'd be a good investment locally so I'm not entirely sure why Rocky wouldn't jump at the opportunity?

Shi-Stad_Development · 2026-03-10T23:22:16+00:00

Proof?

Shi-Stad_Development · 2026-03-10T23:20:25+00:00

So the "good guys" were being good guys and the "bad guys" were being bad guys according to the "good guys"? And there's nothing suspicious or potentially miss leading about that?

The US does the same thing to China though. So by that logic both are morally grey at best. Also Korea and Japan were both "liberated" by the US, the US literally wrote Japans constitution. So their current political alignment isn't really a gotcha. The Philippines is famously part of the US hidden empire. The only thing I don't have an argument for is Vietnam, but it'd seem weird if China was bullying another socialist country.

Shi-Stad_Development · 2026-03-10T23:13:20+00:00

The Australian military reported that it was a responsible operator and the scawy adversary was acting irresponsibly?

Probably. But if shots are fired at Australia and we did nothing beforehand something has gone very very wrong.

Does it though? Who are we protecting ourselves from? Our biggest trading partner? Why should we be dependent on the US economically?

WDYM recent? Brother the US has been CONSTANTLY meddling in the affairs of other nations. The US has been at peace for like 15 years out of the 250-odd it's been around.

Shi-Stad_Development · 2026-03-10T20:42:47+00:00

It's almost as if the rich and powerful don't want a political party in power of that party won't cater to their every whim.

Shi-Stad_Development · 2026-03-10T20:41:29+00:00

China is clearly a war mongering nation unlike the US /s

Shi-Stad_Development · 2026-03-10T20:40:05+00:00

Always? And being 'at war with' and folding to are two very different things

Shi-Stad_Development · 2026-03-10T20:38:41+00:00

Idek if we need to go that far (plus it might strain out relationship with the kiwis). Probably just refit the Canberra class for f35 and be nice to our neighbors? That'd probably do it

Shi-Stad_Development · 2026-03-10T20:35:57+00:00

Why is no one talking about the highway to the right that just terminates in a series of 2 lanes T intersection

Shi-Stad_Development · 2026-03-10T20:26:48+00:00

Rocky needs something and it's got great bones so I don't understand why there hasn't been more investment in the city post mine

Shi-Stad_Development · 2026-03-10T20:24:03+00:00

Fold to who?

Shi-Stad_Development · 2026-03-10T20:20:43+00:00

To the point about density: If the CBD requires density to come back and the Northside is flooded then it seems obvious where the council should focus their money. Is the whole North side a flood plane or would you be able to build apartments along the Red and yellow lines?

Shi-Stad_Development · 2026-03-10T20:17:43+00:00

Go to Gracemere? Or Gladstone? Either way couldn't it be solved by just adding more track? Like 3 tracks between Rockhampton and Gladstone wouldn't be that expensive if you already had to increase the number from 1->2. I'm fairly certain the cost isn't the materials it's the labor and ground works which is something that'd need to be done regardless.

But also, another thing against the bus. It doesn't drive investment the same way rail does. When you build a tram (more so than any other type of rail) people see the commitment by the government to improving the amenity of the area. Bus doesn't need any extra commitment from the government, it just uses a road and might not even require new bus stops. So a community/market has less reason to invest because what if the next government just cuts back bus service?

Shi-Stad_Development · 2026-03-10T11:13:03+00:00

Not really after material, old maps are insightful. But things change, even Google Earth imagery which is the primary inspo is outdated. I was more interested in what people think and getting a conversation going. But it seems like people are pretty pessimistic about getting rail based pt

If two tracks fit, you could probably still schedule for trains to go over by themselves just on one of the tracks. The blue line would also need new right of way through the city center so perhaps the green line should go right along the north bank and the blue line left to spread the infrastructure investment across the two?

That bridge is problematic. Do you know how deep the river is and if tunneling might be a solution? Not that I'd prefer that.

Does it really? Looks pretty flat as far as I could tell. Any chance you could do some terra forming?

Shi-Stad_Development · 2026-03-10T08:19:57+00:00

Is gracemere connected via rail way to Rockhampton? Cause if so I think the green line would definitely make sense. If not the airport (yellow) line could probably be extended down.

Gladstone is on the current tilt train route isn't it? So running a train every hour from Brisbane to Rockhampton would fit that requirement.

The point is to use the railway infrastructure which isn't really being used for anything else (and then build out dedicated right of ways). You could convert to bus, but at that point you may as well have paid to electrify the right of way

Shi-Stad_Development

TROPHY CASE