Chapter 170: Cyclones and Typhoons
Soon after the location for the royal palace was decided, preparations and construction began immediately. The construction of the palace would employ at least twenty thousand indigenous workers and thousands of Australian workers and architectural experts. The estimated construction period was around three years. This was primarily because nearly half of the area consisted of the small hill and lake, which required little modification—just some adjustments along the lake's edge and the addition of railings.
The construction of the square would also be relatively simple, and these three areas made up the majority of the palace's total area, which was why the construction period was so short. The real effort would be concentrated on building the main palace, which was the most important and central part of the entire royal palace.
With so many indigenous workers available, the construction timeline was expected to be met, and if things went smoothly, the timeline could even be shortened. The palace was located about ten kilometers from Sydney's city center and only about thirty kilometers from the military training area in the western mountains.
Once the area for the palace was confirmed, the government's administrative building also began its site selection process. Because the new palace was to be located close to the royal palace, the administrative building was decided to be constructed to the east of the palace, closer to the city center of Sydney.
The new administrative building was named the Australian Government Administration House. It was designed to resemble the letter "H", with government office spaces on the west side, parliamentary office spaces on the east side, and large meeting rooms and break areas in the center.
The Administration House was located less than two kilometers from the royal palace, and the Cabinet officials were equipped with the government's version of the Benzone. In case of an emergency, these officials could ensure they could reach the royal palace within fifteen minutes, making it convenient for Arthur to visit the Administration House as well.
The government funded the construction of the Administration House, which had a relatively small area, around 40,000 square meters, including the attached gardens, fountains, and a small plaza in front. The budget provided by the government was 200,000 pounds, which was more than enough for a building dedicated to both the government and parliament.
The new administration area would have up to three hundred offices, providing enough space for the entire Australian government. The central meeting area would feature two large meeting rooms and more than ten medium-sized meeting rooms, allowing departments from both the government and parliament to hold large meetings separately.
No longer would the Cabinet and Parliament be forced to hold meetings in the same space. Both institutions would now have their own core meeting rooms.
The construction period for the Administration House was relatively short, and including the surrounding plaza, gardens, and fountains, it would likely be completed in less than two years. If construction was expedited, it could even be finished in about a year and a half.
This meant that the current Cabinet would be able to work in the new building, becoming the first Cabinet to enjoy this new office space.
Starting in mid-October 1903, the construction of both the royal palace and the Australian Government Administration House began, with the estimated completion dates set for the end of 1906 for the palace and mid-1905 for the administrative building.
When this news was published in the Victoria News and the Australian Daily, the reaction from the Australian people was one of joy and acceptance. Everyone agreed that the construction of the royal palace was inevitable and reasonable. Australians respected and adored Arthur for prioritizing spending funds on improving the lives of the people rather than solely on the royal family. Some even felt that the palace was still too modest and called for fundraising to support the royal family. This sparked responses from many Australians, prompting Arthur to appear and declare that the royal family was not in need of funds and to express his gratitude for the people's support before ending the call for donations.
The reaction to the Administration House wasn't as intense, but Australians felt that the government's upgrade to new office space was also reasonable, and they expressed their support for the decision.
The construction of the palace and the Administration House then proceeded at a steady but successful pace, and Arthur entered a period of relaxation and leisure.
On October 29, 1903, off the southern coast of Australia, in deep waters, a previously calm sea began to form a cyclone. It grew larger and larger, heading east toward Australia. This cyclone, known in Australia as a "cyclone", would later be widely recognized as a typhoon.
At this moment, neither the Australians nor the New Zealanders knew that a fierce disaster was about to unfold.
On November 7, 1903, in Sydney, Australia, at the mansion, Arthur's door was knocked, and Hunter's voice, filled with urgency, was heard from outside: "Your Highness, something has happened!"
Arthur was immediately jolted awake. He quickly got dressed and opened the door.
This scene felt familiar to Arthur and made his heart race with unease.
"What happened, Butler Hunter?" Arthur asked quickly.
The familiar scene unsettled Arthur even more, especially considering it was only three in the morning and the pitch-black sky made the situation feel even more serious.
"Your Highness! A massive cyclone has been detected off Australia's east coast, and it is moving rapidly toward us. This could be a disaster for Australia, and we ask that you prepare for refugee relief immediately." Butler Hunter said anxiously.
At this point in human technology, natural disasters were seen as divine punishment—impossible to avoid and nearly impossible to predict.
The exact scale of the disaster the typhoon might cause was unknown. It could miss Australia entirely, or it could wreak havoc on the Australian coast.
"Notify the Cabinet immediately. Call an emergency meeting. Butler Hunter, have the royal consortium prepare enough relief supplies for the upcoming aid efforts. Tell the army to halt their training and be ready to assist at a moment's notice." Arthur ordered quickly.
Arthur knew that since the cyclone had already been detected, it was close to Australia and could arrive at any moment. Evacuating people would no longer be possible, and before evacuation orders could even be given, the cyclone could already be wreaking havoc.
The most important thing now was to prepare for relief efforts to minimize casualties in Australia.
"The Cabinet officials are already here, waiting outside the mansion," Butler Hunter replied.
"Tell them to head to the conference room immediately. At the same time, have the royal consortium begin relief preparations. I expect the troops to be ready and take action before noon," Arthur said quickly, heading toward the conference room.
Ten minutes later, in the mansion's conference room.
"Everyone, I'm sure you are aware of the situation. Let's discuss the preparations the government should make," Arthur asked once everyone was seated.
"Your Highness, if the cyclone doesn't cause casualties in Australia, that would be ideal, but if it does, we must prepare for relief, treatment, and comforting of the victims. Even maintaining public order will need to be addressed in advance. During such disasters, people's fear often leads to chaos, and we must not be lax about security." Prime Minister Evan was the first to respond.
"Whether or not the cyclone causes casualties, I believe we should prepare in advance. No one can guarantee the situation, so we must plan for every possible outcome." Prime Minister Evan continued.
"I've already instructed the army to cease training and prepare to enter the disaster zones for rescue. The royal consortium will also prepare large amounts of relief supplies to distribute to the refugees. I hope all departments can collaborate and help Australians get through this disaster," Arthur concluded.
(End of Chapter)
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