Storms in Melbourne

[Aquarius]

Yes, that's strange about the weather in different suburbs - I've been driving home and virtually drove out of the rain into the sun which was quite bizarre. Over here on the coast we seem to miss out on all the drama in the inner and western suburbs. We rarely get flooding because we are all up hill and down dale over here but the vast western suburbs are so flat that water has nowhere to escape. But we do have floodplains all along the coast because of the lagoons and so we can experience those flash floods in extreme weather.

As for the trees on footpaths, I suppose those unsuitable trees would cost too much to remove, hence the annual lopping. But I think the best trees are bottlebrushes. We have quite a few in our streets around here. Right at the moment they are flowering profusely and are so colourful. They provide nectar for the bees too which is most important so if you pass one you will see dozens of bees at work. It's always best to plant natives instead of some of those unsuitable exotic types of trees that grow far too high. Yep, it's unbelievable that councils have allowed these trees to be planted in the first place. Haven't they got anyone with a few brains and/or expertise when it comes to horticulture?

[Jasin]

Apparently not. Bottlebrushes are nice and I do prefer the natives, though some natives can look 'dingy' looking and boring.
Some flower beautifully, some smell really nice. They really should ask 'experts' and not just some Joe running the local Nursery looking to sell his own plants on order at emotional blackmail about the Council 'having to' support local community, etc.

Everyone thinks Willows are beautiful due to Monet paintings. But Willows are dreadful along creeks, streams and narrow rivers. They really do ruin the waterways in so many ways and for the water-based creatures. They're basically an awful (big) 'weed' that are detrimental to waterways.

So it shows that good education and expertise is needed towards foresight for future needs.
Alas, I've seen most of Sydney since being a boy of the 70's go from being a very 'leafy' City all over, be it the Basin from Scrambletown to Hawkesbury and east of the Canal to the Coastal burbs. You could hear Cicadas anywhere and the City of Sydney was indeed a nice place to live.
But especially since 2000, the Quantity over Quality has clearly turned Sydney into a Monstro-city of Cement, Tar and anything not really relating to nature. They want to put high-rises (Hong Kong Slums) everywhere with near to no parking for the inhabitants. The want to cover the Scenic Hills in the West with Block Mansions because they can cash in on the 'view' prices. I worked Construction out west where Burbs basically deforest 'everything' like a clean slate. Even St Gregory's (Did Renovations there) Boys were selling all their prime lands for 'burbs'. They want 760,000 homes (via burbs) to be made out S-West past Scrambletown through Douglas Park and all the way to Tahmoor. It will never stop.

If Sydney had retained its 'nature loving' STYLE. Then we probably wouldn't mind the city growing, etc. But since 'quantity' is the name of the game now - Sydney has become a malignant cancer of cement, tar, brick and steel that is spreading without any real planning, consideration for efficient infrastructure. Basically Woolworths, Coles - when they want to increase business. They build a big 'Supermarket Centre' out in nowhere and just have their 'revenue' move into the new 'burbs' built around them. Maybe a Petrol Station or two. Some burbs like Eagle Vale are in the middle of nowhere - in regards to being surrounded by other burbs and more.

Personally. I think Sydney is a lost cause. I remember working for the 'secret' borings in regards to the Tunnel under Balmain. All "shoosh", so the Balmainers don't find out until its too late. I didn't give a rats and told anyone who asked what we were doing? "Yeah - we're testing all the sandstone towards building a giant worm-tunnel under your suburb in a few years."

Sydney has become the House of Cards.
If the Nukes get thrown around during World War. I honestly reckon some crazed Moslem in a little white van with a black market USSR Nuke in the back will blow Sydney sky high. The Basin will suddenly become a 'Bay' and most of the harbour will be pulverised and gone.

...Red Sails in the Sunset (Midnight Oil).

[Aquarius]

You could hear Cicadas anywhere and the City of Sydney was indeed a nice place to live.

This is what I miss - the cicadas. The sounds of summer. And where are the blue tongue lizards that used to live in my little backyard and sun themselves on the wooden retaining walls? We used to hand feed them mince meat. The wildlife is dying off (except for the brush turkeys that have moved in because they've lost their habitat) and instead we get millions of mussos and Indians and Chinese in their place. I just want the lizards and the birds back!

Sydney has become a malignant cancer of cement, tar, brick and steel that is spreading without any real planning, consideration for efficient infrastructure.

Absolutely. It seems that everyone I know is escaping Sydney and moving elsewhere. I'd leave too, except it's still ok over here on the Northern Beaches and I'm loath to leave because if I wanted to come back I'd probably not be able to afford to buy back in what with the shocking price of homes over here now.

I never drive into the city anymore. It's become a nightmare for motorists what with all the toll roads and tunnels. The Rozelle Interchange is a shambles. And so costly!! It must be horrendous for those people living in the inner city and suburbs as people try to avoid the toll roads and use suburban streets. I only drive north up to the central and north coasts - sometimes Qld to see my brother on the Gold Coast hinterland. Nearly all my cousins are up that way having left decades ago. I also drive to the Blue Mountains regularly. It's easy going out through North Ryde and Rhodes and then onto the M4 and escaping the madness of the tunnels. My neighbour won't even leave the Northern Beaches - won't drive across the Spit or Roseville Bridges - won't even drive further than Warriewood. That's how it's affecting a lot of older drivers because it seems that everytime they venture out, it's all changed again. We just don't recognise our city anymore.

[Jasin]

You've nailed it with the older people. Sydney is a shemozzle and they do indeed keep changing the goal posts of Roads and Traffic. I grew up in Sydney and the older I got, the more I got lost in it. Northern Beaches is one of the few last bastions of quality areas, that I can agree with you. When I lived in Kirribilli, I stopped walking to work on King/George Sts, across the Bridge because I got sick of dickheads wanting attention for their own boredoms. So I had to cough up the extra for ferry for such a short distance.

If I have to drive to the NSW far north coast, I make the time to go the inland 'scenic' route - which although is much longer in kms, is far less stressful and awful than going the coastal route through crapholes like Nowra, Wollongong and through the Dungeon itself 'Sydney'.

I would honestly say that Sydney & Melbourne have not just become a 'health hazard' in regards to the many 'dangerous' aspects both in the people and the conditions there, but that both would FAIL dismally in any WH&S standard for 'cities'.
They 'both' prove that those international Polls like 'best cities in the world', etc - are nothing but fabricated Polls that get paid (by Syd/Mel Tourism) to announce such things as 'best LIVEABLE ( ) cities' in Australia, etc.

[Aquarius]

If I have to drive to the NSW far north coast, I make the time to go the inland 'scenic' route - which although is much longer in kms, is far less stressful and awful than going the coastal route through crapholes like Nowra, Wollongong and through the Dungeon itself 'Sydney'.

What scenic route do you take? Do you come up to Sydney via the M5 and then travel up to the North Coast via the New England Highway? I often used to come home from the Gold Coast hinterland out though Warwick and down the NE Highway to avoid the Pacific Hwy especially when there's been flooding - especially around Maclean.

Regarding Work, Health and Safety Standards

Yes, I'm really sorry for anyone - such as the working poor - who have to travel for hours in the Sydney bus and train system. Mums having to get their babies and toddlers to childcare and then travel on to work by public transport and then pick them up very late on the way home. Especially if they can't even get on a bus because the two spots down the front for strollers are already taken. Imagine how frustrating that would be in the rain!

I have several friends who come from overseas and all of them, not their husbands I will point out, will not drive in Sydney traffic. They are really afraid to venture out into that horrendous maze of toll roads and tunnels. It's okay over here but there are several who will not even drive on the Northern Beaches! They say it's because of the frantic pace everyone drives at down here. Although most of the time it's nothing more than a crawl in peak hours.

I just don't know how these working mums do it because compared to today, we mums of the generation before had it easy. The mental health of those struggling today and the effect it has on their kids is a real concern. Of course the welfare addicted don't have the same problems. They can - and do - have heaps of kids on the public purse and don't have any worries having to get to work on time.

And yet we hear the politicians constantly tell us how good things are .... and to have more kids! As if!

[Jasin]

The 'scenic' route is to head 'inland', west of the Great Dividing Range and zoom along comfortably and going from non-congested town to non-congested town. Sure, it's longer - but 'time' seems shorter as its more enjoyable, stop where/when you like (for a pee or a pie) and various routes to take. It's also my choice route into Queensland if I need to go that far. The Coastal arterials and routes are just too packed, too dangerous and too tiresome. If I've gotta drive long distance, then I make it part of the holiday experience. I've seen so many Sydney-siders suffer the congested traffic of holiday times, getting down south coast here and it's more a 'sufferance' part of their holiday and then, they've only got from just a day or a few before having to head back into Sydney... again, to suffer the 'crawl' in via the Highway (like from Canberra) or the Coastal. Even the Appin back way is often 3 hours of crawling for just 50kms.

Give me an extra hour's driving freely and unhindered, over an hour less of just moving stop/start in congestion.

Those 'Terrorists', er - I mean Tourists. They really are psychotically angry while on holiday. They just don't get the 'time' to relax and enjoy themselves beyond the congested driving. Everything is 'crammed' in, in so many ways.

Coonabarabran is a neat visit/drive thru experience. Sometimes looping through Armidale is nice, etc, etc.

All 'good things' take time.
All things rushed are ruined.