Is the most innovative solution to the reasons Rockhampton arguably needs a ring road to be revealed this Friday night?
A flying car; with these and flying semi’s who needs roads let alone ring roads. Just fly over the 17 sets of traffic lights. Yes this Friday a car will fly here in Rockhampton. (Google is so yesterday with it driverless car). A car with wings; I think it still runs on normal fuel not that caffeine laden soft drink though.
It is the premiere of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Pilbeam Theatre, a musical adventure based on a 1964 novel written by Ian Fleming. Yes, the author that also introduced us to super spy Bond, James Bond.
Does the car really fly, you’ll have to see the show, but one day flying cars will be common. Do we save a billion dollars on a ring road now and wait till then.
Of course not, but we should scan the future horizon for the best way to spend money on what is going to be future fitting.
Two things on the horizon are the hyper loop ( 4 times faster than high speed rail) that could ultimately replace the need for planes, even overseas flights (www.hyperloop-one.com), plus the use of drones in moving freight.
The efficient movement of freight being the main reason for a Rockhampton ring road.
Council is striving to change the image of Rockhampton region by taking lead in the journey to becoming identified as a smart regional centre. The riverbank revitalisation being the main example. A smart regional centre is characterised by building the jobs of tomorrow and always encouraging innovation.
Is there a more innovative way to efficiently move freight than a billion dollar ring road, a better way to solve the problem.
Hyperloop is holding a competition called the Hyperloop One Global Challenge, that encourages regions to put forward why it should host the first hyperloop networks. The submission needs to include how Hyperloop will drive economic growth and create radically new opportunities for people.
The Capricorn Hyper taking Chinese tourists between two Australian icons, the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru via Rockhampton. Then of course there is the efficient movement of freight; economic growth drivers!
Even if Rockhampton Region didn’t get chosen as one of the three locations, imagine the hype that could be generated about a submission in this global contest.
Let’s say it takes 10 years from now to complete a ring road, maybe Caractacus Potts won’t be flying his fantasmogorical car above Rockhampton but drones carrying freight will be and somewhere in the world hyperloop’s will be operating.
Entries for the Hyperloop Global Challenge close January 1, 2017. Tickets to 4 performances of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang this weekend are available at the Pilbeam Theatre.