The centralisation of regional land transport in NSW and prospects for change in Australia
There has been some effort to regionalise or decentralise state administration and planning of transport, but certainly nothing which could be termed devolution (of power or control). The federal system, as it arose from the colonies, has cemented anomalies and inequities in transport provision. Regional organisations have developed as expressions of regionalism in response, but transport planning in Australia still shows its centralised colonial legacy. World system theory prompts a look at that history from an unusual angle for transport research. It is used in this paper to help illuminate the tenacity of centralism despite a rural tradition which could be strongly regionalist. To build this picture, the paper looks at the history of transport development and administration alongside some of the characteristics of rural Australia's growth and administration. The paper then examines road and rail in the regional (non-metropolitan) context focusing largely but not entirely on New South Wales. It highlights some potential problems facing regionalisation (seen as top-down change) in a context of regionalism (seeking change from the bottom-up). (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E216058.
-
Authors:
- Gray, I
- Publication Date: 2007-9
Language
- English
Media Info
- Pagination: 13P
- Serial:
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Conferences; Federal government; History; Planning; Railroad transportation; Regional planning; Rural areas; Transportation
- ITRD Terms: 8525: Conference; 183: Government (national); 9096: History; 143: Planning; 1173: Rail bound transport; 359: Regional planning; 328: Rural area; 1155: Transport
- Subject Areas: History; Planning and Forecasting; Transportation (General);
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01095064
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: ARRB
- Files: ITRD, ATRI
- Created Date: Apr 25 2008 8:28AM