In just over a decade western Sydney has landed an international airport, massive east-west motorway connections, a genuine light rail network feeding Parramatta, and metro rail along the harbour from Parramatta to the Sydney CBD. When western Sydney gets a sniff of an infrastructure offer, it grabs it like a pack of rabid dogs.
Newcastle, by contrast, is a contrary soul. For good reason, sure, Newcastle is wary of politicians' promises. To the point of cynicism, though, Newcastle now sees discrimination by governments as normal, wearing infrastructure shortfall as its cloak of honour.
