Archive for July, 2007

Public Transport Users Association Outer East Branch Meeting

Published by Alex Makin on Tuesday 31st of July, 2007

Thursday, 2 August 2007
7:00 pm	to	8:30 pm
Thursday, 6 September 2007
7:00 pm	to	8:30 pm
Thursday, 4 October 2007
7:00 pm	to	8:30 pm
Thursday, 1 November 2007
7:00 pm	to	8:30 pm

The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) Outer East Branch meets on the first Thursday of each month to discuss public transport issues relevant to outer eastern Melbourne.

The branch aims to provide a local and vocal presence representing the public transport needs of the outer eastern suburbs. Recent successes of the branch include the Ringwood to Frankston SmartBus (due in February 2008), the Knox City Council Rowville rail feasibility study and the Manningham City Council feasibility study into the Doncaster Road tram extension.

The branch meets at at the Box Hill Community Arts Centre (470 Station Street, Box Hill) from 7:00 pm and is within walking distance of Box Hill Station and the route 700 SmartBus. Attendance is open to all outer eastern residents.

Public Transport Users Association Southeast Branch Meeting

Published by Alex Makin on Tuesday 31st of July, 2007

Tuesday, 5 June 2007
7:00 pm	to	8:30 pm
Tuesday, 3 July 2007
7:00 pm	to	8:30 pm
Tuesday, 7 August 2007
7:00 pm	to	8:30 pm
Tuesday, 4 September 2007
7:00 pm	to	8:30 pm

The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) Southeast Branch meets on the first Tuesday of each month to discuss public transport issues relevant to southeastern Melbourne.

The branch aims to provide a local and vocal presence representing the public transport needs of the fast growing southeastern suburbs. Recent successes include new cleaning and maintenance standards for Dandenong Station, improvements to Noble Park Station and more frequent bus services.

The branch meets at at the Greater Dandenong Council offices (397-405 Springvale Road, Springvale) from 7:00 pm and is within walking distance of Springvale Station and the route 888/889 SmartBus. Attendance is open to all southeastern residents.

Maroondah Journal: Anger at park sale proposal

Published by Alex Makin on Tuesday 31st of July, 2007

The evaluation of Maroondah’s parks and open space is continuing with the Maroondah Journal reporting on the current proposal to potentially sell council land located at 7-9 Bedford Road in Ringwood, a block that consists of play equipment.

Cr Alex Makin said the decision to sell the land would be made at the next council meeting. “There is still an opportunity for people to make their voice heard. It does help to add impact to written submissions.”

On Monday the 6th of August, a committee of council, consisting of myself, the mayor Cr. Peter Gurr and the ward councillor Natalie Thomas, will be hearing verbal submissions in regard to this park. The verbal submission process allows anyone who issued a written submission to reinforce their comments in regard to the future of 7-9 Bedford Road.

The committee will provide a recommendation to council, where the decision regarding the future of this park will be made at a full council meeting.

While the submission period has formally closed I would encourage anyone who holds concerns over the park at 7-9 Bedford Road to contact Council. I am more happy to receive such submissions and be contacted via email on alex.makin@maroondah.vic.gov.au.

Media Release: Major transport survey finds high concern about congestion

Published by Alex Makin on Tuesday 31st of July, 2007

The Eastern Transport Coalition has recently commissioned a survey by the Australian Research Group into the views of residents about the problems with transport in their area.

Cr Mick Van de Vreede said that cars are overwhelmingly the most used form of transport in the outer east and residents have very poor knowledge of what other transport options there may be.

“It’s quite clear from the results of the survey that more needs to be done to give people transport options other than the private vehicle.

“It would be better for the environment and the family budget if they didn’t have to rely on cars to get around all of the time.

“Not surprisingly, road congestion is a big problem in our area, 40 per cent of respondents reported encountering a very high level of congestion on major roads with another 47 per cent reporting a high level.

“The link between people having public transport options and their understanding of congestion as an issue was clear. A comparatively low 29 per cent of respondents living in Chisholm (Box Hill, Burwood, Mount Waverly and Oakleigh) thought there was a very high level of congestion on major roads.

By contrast, Aston has high levels of congestion and low levels of public transport use.

“This shows that if people have decent public transport options they won’t be as concerned or affected by on road congestion.

“The survey also showed that when people have public transport as a real option they would be more likely to use it. Residents in Chisholm reported the most frequent use of public transport with 12 per cent saying they used it every day and 21 per cent using it several times a week.

“This was in contrast to respondents in the Federal electorate of LaTrobe (Belgrave, Berwick, Boronia Upper Ferntree Gully and Mount Dandenong) which were less likely to use public transport. In their cases only 16 per cent saying they used it at least once a week. One third said they never use public transport.

The survey also showed that we have a long way to go to meet goals to increase public transport use.

“Currently only 15 per cent of people use public transport as the primary means of travel to work and only 10 per cent for use it when it comes to not work trips.

“The State Government has a target of 20 per cent of trips by public transport by 2020 which is a goal we support, but a much greater level of investment in new public transport is needed.

“In our view Federal Government, in addition to the role played by the State Government, should play a role by increasing the availability of public transport. They currently provide funds for some major road capacity expansion projects and those funds should also be able to be used for major public transport projects which will reduce levels of congestion, for instance train and tram lines extensions,” Cr Van de Vreede concluded.

The sample for the survey was 1000 people in the Federal electorates within the ETC member Councils area.
(Read more…)

July 2007 Maroondah Forum for Carers and People with Disabilities

Published by Alex Makin on Monday 30th of July, 2007

The Maroondah forum for Carers and People with Disabilities, is a quarterly forum that provides the opportunity to exchange information and to highlight concerns to Council that effect people with disabilities

Today’s meeting included a presentation from Villa Maria on the respite and support services they provide for their clients. In addition Pam Usher from Invicta Bus Company spoke about recent bus service improvements and the training their drivers are required to undertake to ensure they meet the needs of people with a disability.

Much discussion also centred on Maroondah’s Pedestrian Strategy, which has facilitated the much needed construction of a footpath around Maroondah Hospital. The Maroondah Pedestrian Strategy has also enabled the development of a footpath trading policy which will regulate the use of footpaths by traders and therefore assist in ensuring a safe urban environment for people with mobility aids.