Tag: outer suburbs

Review of Bus Services – Second Community Workshop

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The State Government is undertaking a series of bus service reviews across Metropolitan Melbourne and is currently reviewing services within Maroondah, Knox and the Yarra Ranges.

These reviews consist of two community workshops, the first which was held back in February and provided an opportunity for participants to raise their concerns. Issues that were discussed included the need for additional routes to cover gaps in network coverage, as well as the need for more frequent and longer running services.

Tonight’s workshop provided an opportunity to respond to the first draft of recommendations that will be made into the bus network covering Maroondah, Knox and the Shire of Yarra Ranges.

The recommendations were largely positive and included a number of improvements from the written submission I made to the bus review process.

These improvements included a proposed new bus service along Canterbury Road from Camberwell through to Ringwood, a new bus service along Mount Dandenong Road providing accessible and direct access to Karralyka and Maroondah Hospital and improving the directness of routes to make it easier for people to use public transport.

Unfortunately, there was an omission of new services for the Warranwood area and some of the changes for Ringwood North, which included a telebus service operating in a loop to Ringwood Station needs further refinement to provide better connectivity and to ensure quick travel times.

In addition, there was a lack of detail over service frequency and operating span improvements, although there was the recognition that more frequent services were required particularly along main roads such as Maroondah Highway.

Overall the recommendations were largely positive, although these initiatives will only come to fruition if government funding is forthcoming.

The review of bus services has been a positive initiative and it would be a shame if funding was not made available to use this opportunity and demonstrate a serious commitment to providing fast, frequent and readily available bus services across Melbourne and its outer suburbs.

Eastern Transport Coalition – planning for 2009

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Tonight’s Eastern Transport Coalition meeting focused on setting the agenda for 2009. The agenda included the election of Chairperson and Deputy Chair and discussion around the priorities over the next two years.

With State and Federal elections both due in 2010 it is important that the Eastern Transport Coalition continue its advocacy for public transport improvements to ensure that the outer suburbs are provided with transport choice and a public transport system that is competitive with car travel.

The ETC will continue to focus on its advocacy for more frequent and readily available public transport services that is accessible to all members of our community. In particular a number of stations do not currently meet disability compliance standards restricting the mobility of residents within the outer eastern suburbs.

Samantha Dunn, a Councillor from the Shire of Yarra Ranges was appointed as the Chair of the Eastern Transport Coalition and I have been re-appointed as Deputy Chair.

Eastern Transport Coalition – final meeting for 2008

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The Eastern Transport Coalition comprises of Melbourne’s seven outer eastern councils and advocates for public transport improvements within the outer suburbs.

Tonight’s meeting discussed the recently released Victorian Transport Plan and the disappointment over the lack of consideration of projects within Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

While there are some positive aspects to the State Government’s plan, such as designating Ringwood as a Central Activity District and an implied recognition of the importance that public transport will have within these centres, there is unfortunately a lack of detail over infrastrucutre needs in the eastern suburbs or further bus upgrades.

New rail extensions to Rowville and Doncaster, coupled with improvements to bus services, would provide transport choice for Melbourne’s eastern suburbs and enhance the region’s economic, social and environmental sustainability.

Likewise transport services must be accessible for all people within our community. It is therefore critical that the State Government commits to redeveloping Ringwood Station into a safe and accessible transport interchange.

The Eastern Transport Coalition will be continuing to call on all levels of Government to commit to public transport improvements within Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

Media Release: ETC releases short term public transport project list

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The Eastern Transport Coalition has delivered a plan on behalf of one million eastern suburban residents direct to the Premier of Victoria in response to a request made by John Brumby and Public Transport Minister Lyn Kosky at a recent community cabinet meeting held at Ringwood

The submission highlights a wide range of short term projects that will help public transport deprived residents increase their public transport options and usage.

Cr Mick Van De Vreede said that the first submission concentrated on a number of large critical projects but that the Premier and Public Transport Minister were also interested in a range of smaller projects for consideration in the development of the Metropolitan Transport Plan.

“We know that in the eastern suburbs three out of five people would consider getting out of their cars if they had decent public transport options.

“Public transport usage in the majority of local municipalities is very low, at around 3 to 7 per cent compared with a much higher rate in other parts of Melbourne. This makes it clear that we need a generational step up in public transport.”

“The State Government needs to deliver public transport improvements so that families in the outer suburbs are provided with the choice to catch frequent, readily available and accessible public transport services”, Alex Makin Maroondah’s representative on the Eastern Transport Coalition said. “The Government must commit to these short-term priorities, including the much needed redevelopment of Ringwood Station into an accessible transport interchange, frequency improvements on the rail lines beyond Ringwood and substantial bus improvements.”

“If the State Government includes our short, medium and long term projects in the Metropolitan Transport Plan then we will eventually have all the public transport options we need to dramatically reduce congestion, to protect our families from rising fuel prices and to negate rising greenhouse gas emissions,” Cr Van De Vreede concluded.

The ETC’s plan which is available at www.etc.org.au includes the following suggestions;

  • Upgrades to major public transport interchanges with an initial focus on Transit Cities such as Ringwood and Dandenong.
  • Increased off peak frequency on Belgrave / Lilydale lines
  • The immediate undertaking of full feasibility studies for Rail to Rowville and Doncaster and the duplication of the Belgrave/Lilydale rail lines.
  • Bringing forward the SmartBus network so that it is complete by the end of 2009
  • Bus routes into new and existing estates, including Warranwood and Canterbury Road between Ringwood and Box Hill
  • Tram 75 extended to Knox City and Tram 48 extended to Doncaster
  • Bus priority measures along Springvale Road, Stud Road, Cheltenham Road, Wellington Road, Doncaster Road, Hoddle Street and within the CBD
  • Immediate extension of free early bird tickets to buses and trams

For media inquiries please contact Alex Makin on 0408 311 645

– ENDS –

Eastern Transport Coalition – presenting the short-term priorities of the region

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Tonight’s Eastern Transport Coalition finalised a report into the short-term priorities of the eastern region. This report, which was requested by Premier John Brumby, presents the projects required by the eastern region to assist in mitigating rising petrol prices and worsening traffic congestion.

These priorities, such as a new bus route for Canterbury Road, which would travel between Ringwood and Box Hill, and further improvements to bus service frequencies and operating spans, as well as pedestrian priority measures across Maroondah Highway, can be implemented in the short term and assist in providing transport choice across the eastern region. These projects need to be reinforced by longer term investment in the region, such as the redevelopment of Ringwood Station and new rail lines for Doncaster and Rowville, which would drastically reduce car dependency across Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

The State Government’s transport strategy, which will be released in November this year, must deliver public transport improvements across Melbourne and deliver the necessary infrastructure to our outer suburbs. After several attempts at a long term transport strategy, including the clearly insufficient Meeting Our Transport Challenges, which was released in 2006, the State Government must finally deliver real public transport improvements and provide immediate relief to rising petrol prices and improve the accessibility and sustainability of our outer suburbs.

The Eastern Transport Coalition’s short-term priorities for the eastern region will be delivered to the Premier’s office on Friday.

Maroondah Journal: Petrol, housing costs 'hitting eastern suburbs'

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Griffith University academics, Dr Jago Dodson and Dr Neil Sipe recently released Unsettling Suburbia: The new landscape of oil and mortgage vulnerability in Australian cities. The report further explores the VAMPIRE index (Vulnerability Assessment for Mortgage, Petroleum and Inflation Risks and Expenses) whereby the costs borne by rising petrol prices and mortgages are compared across suburbs.

Perhaps unsurprisingly the report finds that Melbourne’s outer suburbs, including the eastern region, is more vulnerable to rising petrol prices compared to the inner or middle suburbs.

Cr Alex Makin, spokesman for the Eastern Transport Coalition of seven municipalities, said the report highlighted the “dire need” of improvements to outer east transport.

Melbourne’s outer eastern suburbs are vulnerable to rising petrol prices due to the lack of readily available public transport. This results in higher levels of car dependence and thus a higher proportion of income being vulnerable to rising petrol prices.

“The rise in oil prices affects the mobility of the community and it is critical for action to be taken now.”

While petrol prices have decreased slightly in recent weeks, trends are continuing to show further increases. It is therefore imperative that Melbourne’s outer suburbs are provided with transport choice, through the provision of frequent, reliable and readily available public transport.

Council has an important role to play in advocating for public transport improvements, particularly since the State Government will be undertaking a review of Maroondah’s bus services towards the end of this year. This review will provide the opportunity to request higher service frequencies, increased operating spans and new routes to cover areas such as Canterbury Road, Mount Dandenong Road and Warranwood which lack much needed bus services.

In addition, Council must strengthen its advocacy for the upgrade of Ringwood Station. The State Government can no longer be allowed to ignore the dire state of Ringwood Station, a facility that is perceived to be unsafe by our community and fails to meet accessibility standards.

While a number of municipalities including the City of Knox are currently considering a Peak Oil Policy, some of my colleagues on council are unfortunately reluctant to consider such action despite the economic, social and environmental consequences for Maroondah.

Eastern Transport Coalition: Planning for the public transport summit

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This evening’s Eastern Transport Coalition meeting focused on the public transport summit planned for the 4th of July. This public transport summit will focus on the infrastructure needs of Melbourne’s outer eastern suburbs and will include presentations on Doncaster rail, Rowville rail as well as Ringwood Station and the Belgrave/Lilydale lines.

While rising petrol prices have led to a reduction in vehicle usage within inner Melbourne, families in Melbourne’s outer suburbs are left struggling under the strain of rising prices due to the lack of readily available public transport.

The State Government must realise that it is time to move on from transport neglect and towards an era of major public transport expansion to provide transport choice for Melbourne’s outer suburbs. Only a significant boost to public transport will provide an alternative to rising petrol prices and reduce greenhouse emissions that are continuing to spiral out of control.

The summit includes a number of prominent transport and planning experts, including Peter Newman, Professor of Sustainability, Curtin University and Professor Graham Currie, Monash University Chair of Public Transport.

Ringwood Station and the importance of Ringwood as a regional centre will feature as one of the topics to be discussed at the summit. I will presenting information on the Ringwood Transit City and the importance of public transport in providing a safe, accessible and vibrant environment at 10:45 am.

The summit entitled ‘It’s Time to Move On’ will be held on Friday the 4th of July from 8:30 am at the Maninngham Function Centre, 699 Doncaster Road in Doncaster.

For further details please visit www.etc.org.au.

Maroondah Leader: Go carbon neutral by 2012

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Amid further concerns in regard to the environment, the Maroondah Leader has reported on the need to reduce energy usage and achieve carbon neutrality.

Councillor Alex Makin said the council needed to become a leader in combating climate change and to take immediate action.

It is important that council not only reduce its own emissions but also educate the community in how our municipality can collectively improve its urban sustainability.

“Victoria’s carbon emissions are spiralling out of control and we need to take action,” Cr Makin said. “The State and Federal governments are procrastinating and we at a local government just get on with the job.”

Victoria has seen a 30% increase in greenhouse emissions since 1990, largely due to a dependence on coal and a failure to provide transport choice and sustainable forms of transport for Melbourne’s outer suburbs. Meanwhile the Federal Government is awaiting the results of the Ross Garnaut report before announcing any interim reduction targets.

It is therefore important that Maroondah, as a form of government, undertake steps to reduce greenhouse emissions and to demonstrate that proactive change is possible.

“I do hope my colleagues view this as seriously as I do, because we need to acknowledge the seriousness of climate change.”

All councillors within Maroondah must view the need for reducing greenhouse emissions as a priority. It is imperative that we improve our urban sustainability so that we can ensure that future generations inherit a planet that is economically, environmentally and socially prosperous.

Activating Communities: Communities for Public Transport at the Sustainable Living Festival

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Melbourne’s Sustainable Living Festival, held at Federation Square, is Victoria’s premiere festival celebrating and promoting urban sustainability.

As part of the proceedings, I delivered a presentation on the aims of Communities for Public Transport and the need for grassroots advocacy for public transport improvements. Ultimately a lack of public transport affects local communities, through failure to deliver the necessary infrastructure to ensure urban sustainability.

The lack of public transport infrastructure within the growth areas of Melbourne, such as South Morang, Werribee, Cranbourne and Pakenham, is a major concern since until these areas are provided with the necessary public transport improvements, Mellbourne will always face a losing battle in regard to sustainability.

It is inexcusable for the State Govenrment to deprive growth areas of public transport, given the widely acknowledged costs of congestion, social isolation and greenhouse emissions. A lack of public transport ultimately affects all of Melbourne, with cars from the outer suburbs flooding inner city roads. As a result local communities right across Melbourne need to find their voice to ensure action from all levels of government.

Active Communities = Active Advocacy : Communities for Public Transport featured at the Sustainable Living Festival

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Communities for Public Transport is unique in that it places communities first and foremost in its advocacy efforts.

Communities for Public Transport, the public transport advocacy group established to represent and empower local communities, will be featured at Melbourne’s Sustainable Living Festival on Sunday the 17th of February at 10am.

The Sustainable Living Festival, an annual event held at Federation Square, aims to showcase organisations that inspire and promote sustainable communities.

I have been invited to deliver a presentation on Communities for Public Transport with the aim of providing advice on community advocacy and to highlight the key issues facing the campaign for public transport improvements in Melbourne and Victoria.

The ongoing inaction over public transport is emerging as a key issue within metropolitan Melbourne and now is the time for local communities to speak up and demand much needed public transport improvements. Rising petrol prices are adding severe financial pressures to many households, particularly those living in the outer suburbs where public transport is not readily available.

Public transport is also required to ensure an equitable Melbourne, where people of all abilities are able to participate in society. The State Government must accelerate disability compliance works to ensure that it exceeds the required milestones established under the Federal Government’s Disability Discrimination Act of 1992

The State Government must demonstrate that it is serious about making public transport improvements a priority. Traffic congestion is creating a severe impost on the economy with severe inflationary pressures undermining Melbourne’s productivity. In addition, Victoria’s greenhouse emissions are continuing unabated due to heavy car dependence.

Local communities know the public transport improvements they require and are best placed to advocate for the public transport improvements that will provide for a sustainable future. It is time for local communities to demand action and to find their voice. Melbourne and its outer suburbs must no longer tolerate poor train reliability, infrequent buses, a lack of nearby stations, inaction over tram extensions and an ongoing list of broken promises over rail extensions.

I encourage you to attend the presentation Active Communities = Active Advocacy at 10am in the design tent at the Sustainable Living Festival, Federation Square.