LFC said:

man now this is thread mining as they say.......

Is it not surprising you bring up a political outlook above.
You know what - I never gave it a thought growing up singing it out it was the anthem we had.
Its a boring tune tbh, so is AAF imo.
Lacks umph, cahonas - sure its ours but its lacking the kind of vibe I prefer, gutso, like some latino euro ones are.

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It's actually a fine anthem. The issue is it can be sung too slowly. It needs to be sung with a bit of pace, just like the American one. The lyrics are much better than many countries as it's got less to do with war or hardship but anthems are supposed to be uncanny in a way.

grazorblade said:

Funny enough aaf grew on me

A lot of anthems are militaristic, kind of nice that ours isn't

Uruguays tune is unbeatable tho

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Uruguay's anthem? I only know a long 4min booing version.

LFC said:

and there I am avoiding like a plague when we're up the coastie.
Gimme Bateau Bay Fair anyday, one floor, got all you need.

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I grew up streets away and you had people parking in our street for Xmas and Boxing Day shopping. It's nice to see other centres have renovated. Even the Green Point shops got bigger due to population growth and people can get a shop done without going to the big smoke. Kincumber shops roundabout is notorious now.

grazorblade said:

Funny enough aaf grew on me

A lot of anthems are militaristic, kind of nice that ours isn't

Uruguays tune is unbeatable tho

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The nonsense about 'girt'. It's an anthem, they're supposed to have archaic words and wonderful weirdness. Other countries mention other places. Arguments that I am Australian should be the anthem are ridiculous. Too long and even a bit too modern. New nations, mostly African states, have such boring, standardised ones. Hearing it umpteen times during the Olympics is always great.

grazorblade said:

Best thing about the anthem is it almost feels like an Australian patriotic song now

I don't know what the words say because I don't speak the language but I'm guessing it's something about how they got knocked out by the aussies? Cause that's the image that comes to mind when I hear it

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Whenver Uruguay play I have to mention 'we once droned that out'. The only time ever and it was justified. The comments on the Youtube videos document the saga well and the world says' fair enough, wouldn't normally expect that from an Aussie crowd.'

JS96 said:

I grew up streets away and you had people parking in our street for Xmas and Boxing Day shopping. It's nice to see other centres have renovated. Even the Green Point shops got bigger due to population growth and people can get a shop done without going to the big smoke. Kincumber shops roundabout is notorious now.

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Many intersections are notorious now due to the last 20yrs growth.
Tuggerah is a nightmare where Bunnings and other big shops are now on weekends.
Yer Erina fair was a huge improvement as needed but yer Pia for parking depending when.
Killed Gosford and the Entrance has got worse a ghost town of many empty shops.
Funny other smaller spots have done well.
Long Jetty the ol dump has become the Newtown like of the coast unbelievable.
Main drag is packed all weekend.

LFC said:

Many intersections are notorious now due to the last 20yrs growth.
Tuggerah is a nightmare where Bunnings and other big shops are now on weekends.
Yer Erina fair was a huge improvement as needed but yer Pia for parking depending when.
Killed Gosford and the Entrance has got worse a ghost town of many empty shops.
Funny other smaller spots have done well.
Long Jetty the ol dump has become the Newtown like of the coast unbelievable.
Main drag is packed all weekend.

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I came across and interesting video for a light rail proposal as long ago as the 70's. If only the infrastructure had been invested in. Too much reliance on cars. I'm amazed how many German cities with fewer residents in the immediate vicinity have a tram that covers longer distances than certain areas of Australia.

JS96 said:

It's actually a fine anthem. The issue is it can be sung too slowly. It needs to be sung with a bit of pace, just like the American one. The lyrics are much better than many countries as it's got less to do with war or hardship but anthems are supposed to be uncanny in a way.

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Yer I hear you but still find it boring it’s like a flat lining tune.
Conservative typically us.
That’s the English background - why have similar when there’s always been the movement to break away from the shackles of the past.
The lyrics can be replicated by countless other countries girt by sea eh.
Also mention commonwealth - another link mentioned not to respect.

JS96 said:

I came across and interesting video for a light rail proposal as long ago as the 70's. If only the infrastructure had been invested in. Too much reliance on cars. I'm amazed how many German cities with fewer residents in the immediate vicinity have a tram that covers longer distances than certain areas of Australia.

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We had a rail discussion recently due the recent travels using fast trains again and imagine how good travelling would be here had we pushed the decision decades back and actually did it.

LFC said:

We had a rail discussion recently due the recent travels using fast trains again and imagine how good travelling would be here had we pushed the decision decades back and actually did it.

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Would've cost a lot less back then. Bloody consultants and all the added steps on a project these days.

JS96 said:

I came across and interesting video for a light rail proposal as long ago as the 70's. If only the infrastructure had been invested in. Too much reliance on cars. I'm amazed how many German cities with fewer residents in the immediate vicinity have a tram that covers longer distances than certain areas of Australia.

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TBH the high speed rail (when and it it comes will help with the trip to Sydney or Newcastle but it relies on cars to reach the only 3 stations catering for what will be 1,000,000 to 1,300,000 by 2040 if you include the Central Coast and Greater Newcastle. That whole area east of the lakes is poorly served by public transport.

I copied this from somewhere a few months ago - can't remember where.

The Central Coast and Hunter regions require a coordinated transport spine to support rapid population growth. While the federal High-Speed Rail (HSR) network establishes fast interstate links, local regional connections remain heavily car-dependent.

The Coastal Accelerator Metro is a proposed 61-kilometre, high-frequency rapid transit system built in three distinct stages. By aligning construction with the wind-down of major Sydney and the completion of the HSR trunk line. Funded through Value Capture developer levies, this network balances human-scale coastal transit villages with established 25-storey high-rise anchors in the primary commercial CBDs.

1. Three-Stage Construction Pipeline & Financials
To maximize immediate utility without being delayed by complex water crossings, the network is built from both ends simultaneously before executing the final link.

[STAGE 1: SOUTHERN WING]
[Gosford Hub] ── [Erina Fair]── [Wamberal] ── [Bateau Bay] ── [The Entrance] ── [Toukley] ── [Lake Haven] ── [Doyalson] ── [Lake Macquarie] ── [Swansea]

[STAGE 2: NORTHERN WING]
[Belmont] ── [Charlestown] ── [John Hunter Hosp] ── [Callaghan Uni] ── [Newcastle / Broadmeadow]

[STAGE 3: THE MISSING LINK]
[Swansea] ════════════ (Swansea Channel Crossing) ════════════► [Belmont]



2. High-Speed Rail (HSR) Integration
The Coastal Metro operates as the local "feeder network" that makes the federal HSR viable for outer-suburban commuters:

• The Gosford Anchor: Stage 1 passengers from Toukley, The Entrance, and Bateau Bay feed directly into the Gosford Metro Interchange, stepping straight onto the underground HSR to reach Sydney Central in 30 minutes.
• The Broadmeadow Anchor: Stage 2 passengers from the eastern lake and Newcastle beach corridors feed directly into the Broadmeadow HSR hub for rapid southbound travel.
• The Morisset Bypass: By providing a direct rail corridor up the eastern side of Lake Macquarie (Stage 2) and the northern lakes (Stage 1), commuters can seamlessly access the regional network without being forced to navigate the clogged highway links around to the inland Morisset HSR station.

3. Calibrated Precinct Density & Tower Heights
The zoning architecture matches existing local development profiles, shifting maximum skyscraper density exclusively to the heavy commercial bedrock anchors and capping them at a realistic 25 storeys.

Stage 1: Central Coast Corridor

• Gosford Interchange (Maximum Density: 25 Stories): High-rise commuter housing, hotels, and build-to-rent complexes sitting directly above the underground High-Speed Rail junction.
• Wamberal (Low Density: 3–4 Stories): Premium low-rise boutique apartments and townhouses designed to blend seamlessly into the lagoon tree line without casting coastal shadows.
• Bateau Bay (Medium Density: 4–6 Stories): Human-scale apartment blocks surrounding the Bay Village shopping hub, built to attract young families.
• The Entrance (Medium-High Density: 6–8 Stories): Replaces stagnant holiday shacks with active beachfront apartments and tourist accommodation, sized to prevent overshadowing the coastline.
• Toukley & Lake Haven (Medium-High Density: 5–7 Stories): Functional, mid-rise urban villages providing high volumes of affordable key-worker housing near the northern lakes.
• Swansea (Medium-High Density: 8–12 Stories): High-density lakeside towers constructed along the heavy, pre-existing Pacific Highway commercial strip to save land footprint.

Stage 2 & 3: Hunter & Lake Macquarie Corridor

• Belmont (Medium-High Density: 8–12 Stories): High-density lakeside towers constructed along the heavy, pre-existing Pacific Highway commercial strip to save land footprint.
• Charlestown (Maximum Density: 25 Stories): Capitalises on the solid geographic ridge. This precinct acts as a towering regional hub, packing thousands of residents directly over a high-capacity metro station.
• John Hunter Hospital (High Density: 12–14 Stories): Towering medical and key-worker housing built directly over a deep underground station, eliminating the hospital parking crisis.
• Callaghan Campus / University (High Density: 8–10 Stories): Squeezes multi-tower student dorms into a walkable campus layout, turning it into a 24/7 innovation precinct.
• Merewether (Low Density: 4–5 Stories): Strict low-rise limitations to preserve the iconic surf coast amenity.
• Newcastle Interchange / Broadmeadow (Maximum Density: 25 Stories): Established metropolitan high-rise density to link directly with the northern HSR line.

LFC said:

Yer I hear you but still find it boring it’s like a flat lining tune.
Conservative typically us.
That’s the English background - why have similar when there’s always been the movement to break away from the shackles of the past.
The lyrics can be replicated by countless other countries girt by sea eh.
Also mention commonwealth - another link mentioned not to respect.

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That refers to the Commonwealth of Australia (official name) - mainland Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, numerous smaller offshore islands, and the remote offshore territories of Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard and McDonald Islands, and Norfolk Island.

Though it was written in 1878 it was looking forward to federation of the Commonwealth of Australia not what was then the British Empire.

Richie said:

You have heeded my call, many thanks. LFC, grazor how have you blokes been.

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Happy to keep the ball rolling mate - all very well thanks busy as - the EPL has started happy days and APIA crowned Premiers for '26.
Spring is in the air !

Syd 2000 games were epic obviously finally hosting.
We went to a lot of events as well being at the time lived just across the river.
Great moments.

My parents arrived here in '52, I never recall having to stand up for the anthem in cinemas or even heard as such.
School yes, I think we used to have a raise the flag each morning assemblies and sing it.
I never gave a shit just did what you had to do - bloody anglos, stopped early '70's.