Tag: petrol prices

EastLink Open Day

Posted on by alex

After the Ringwood Spiders Game I attended the EastLink Open Day and walked through both of the tunnels. While there is no doubt that EastLink is an impressive project, it is a shame that the Government neglected the opportunity to substantially invest in public transport as part of the road project.

It is common practice in Perth to build new rail lines in tandem with freeway projects, providing an integrated approach and transport choice for the community. While the EastLink project will provide a continuous cycling and walking trail, public transport improvements were limited to amenity and car parking upgrades to stations such as Heatherdale.

In an era of rising petrol prices the role and need for public transport is only going to increase. It therefore makes sense to invest in public transport in tandem with road projects. Projects such as the redevelopment of Ringwood Station as well as rail extensions should and could have been part of the EastLink project scope.

Fortunately one glaring omission from the original project scope will be rectified. A pedestrian bridge across Maroondah Highway linking the shared trail will be built in the coming months. This will enhance the safety of pedestrians and cyclists using the shared path since they will be able to avoid crossing the busy Maroondah Highway interchange and several sets of traffic lights.

Australia 2020 Summit

Posted on by alex

As the Deputy Chair of the Eastern Transport Coalition I was invited to attend a local version of the Australian Government’s 2020 summit. The regional summit, which was held at Monash University in Clayton, included the same themes that will be discussed in Canberra later this year:

  • Future directions for the Australian economy;
  • Economic infrastructure, the digital economy and the future of our cities;
  • Population, sustainability, climate change and water;
  • A long-term national health strategy;
  • Strengthening communities;
  • Australia’s future security and prosperity in a rapidly changing region and world.

Given that the Eastern Transport Coalition’s focus is on infrastructure on the need for federal leadership in regard to the sustainability of our cities, I attended the session on Australia’s economic infrastructure.

Participants consisted of community members, representatives of business as well as non-profit organisations and local government. Within the infrastructure session, there was agreement on the need for Federal leadership to improve the sustainability of our cities through Federal investment in urban public transport.

Issues surrounding governance were also discussed. The role of the State Government was questioned, with there being a strong preference for direct interaction between Federal and Local governments.

Given that congestion, greenhouse emissions and social isolation have national ramifications it is evident that there is a need for the Federal Government to provide funding for public transport infrastructure. This investment, which would work in partnership with other tiers of government, would ensure that State Governments deliver the necessary public transport improvements to maintain and improve the liveability of our cities, an issue that is growing increasingly critical given rising petrol prices.

Interestingly the need for federal leadership in urban public transport was seen as a prominent issue in many of the other groups, particularly the health and education sessions where it became apparent that people need transport choice, including public transport, to be able to access such services.

The call for federal leadership and investment in urban public transport was clearly conveyed at this summit. It is imperative that our Federal representatives heed this message.

Media Release: ETC seeks budget commitments from Federal and State Governments

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In submissions to the State and Federal Governments the ETC has sought co-operation to tackle one of the most significant contributors to rising greenhouse gases and rising petrol prices – private transport.

Cr Mick Van De Vreede, ETC Chairperson said that the seven councils wanted to see the funding criteria for AusLink changed to allow the $3+billion a year funding program to fund urban public transport.

“If we are going to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases we emit and help families avoid the rising petrol prices we need to increase the availability of public transport now. A long term plan to reduce climate change requires a long term plan for the expansion of public transport.”

“In the east this means four broad key projects;

  • Heavy rail connections to Doncaster and Rowville
  • Duplication or triplication on the Belgrave, Lilydale and Dandenong lines
  • Completion and implementation of bus service reviews
  • Improvement of passenger amenity through state of the art transport interchanges in Ringwood and Box Hill

Without immediate action to deliver on these projects residents in the outer east will be unable to do their bit to reduce climate change.”

Councillor Alex Makin represents Maroondah City Council on the Eastern Transport Coalition.

“The Eastern Transport Coalition is calling for the funding criteria for the Federal AusLink program to allow funds to develop urban public transport – and in particular in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne,” said Cr Makin.

“State and Federal Governments must work cooperatively to deliver the public transport improvements necessary to ensure the economic, social and environmental sustainability of our suburbs. The ETC’s budget submissions are a call to action for Melbourne’s public transport system.”

Media Release: Launch of Communities for Public Transport

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Communities for Public Transport, a community focused transport lobby group, will be unveiled at the Sustainable Living Festival on Sunday the 17th of February at 10am.

“Communities for Public Transport marks a new direction for public transport advocacy. The group will work within local communities to ensure that local residents are empowered to advocate for public transport improvements” said Mr. Makin.

Communities for Public Transport has held a series of successful public meetings in Melbourne’s suburbs, with further meetings being planned for 2008. Alex Makin, a former Vice-President of the Public Transport Users Association, formed Communities for Public Transport when he realised that local community input was being ignored.

“Local communities are best placed to advocate for the improvements that affect them. Local residents know firsthand the pain experienced by overcrowded trains, infrequent buses and slow trams. With rising petrol prices and increasing financial pressure now is the time for local communities to become involved in public transport advocacy. This presentation at the Sustainable Living Festival will provide advice on advocacy to empower our local communities”, concluded Mr. Makin.

Details: 10am Sunday 17th of February, at the Design Tent Federation Square

About Communities for Public Transport:
Communities for Public Transport was founded in mid 2007 to empower local communities and provide advice in regard to public transport advocacy. The group works with local residents and community groups to assist in securing public transport improvements.

ALL MEDIA ENQUIRIES: ALEX MAKIN ON 0409 136 213

– ENDS –

First Eastern Transport Coalition meeting for 2008

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Like other committees, the Eastern Transport Coalition (ETC) has returned in january to hold its first meeting for 2008. Today’s meeting discussed the Eastern Transport Coalition’s submission to the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission (VCEC) Inquiry into Liveability. This Inquiry was requested by the Victorian Treasurer, John Lenders, amid growing concern over Melbourne’s decline in liveability rankings.

The Eastern Transport Coalition submission will focus heavily on the need for an integrated transport and planning approach, which would curtail the excessive dominance of VicRoads in planning and transport policies. Furthermore the submission will also highlight the need for sustainable transport to assist in the liveability of my communities. For example, public transport improvements would provide an alternative to car dependence meaning that less income would be spent battling rising petrol prices and that less time would be wasted waiting in traffic congestion.

The VCEC Inquiry into traffic congestion clearly stated that the Government must do more to improve public transport. It is imperative that the State Government finally acts on the numerous inquiries it has called and realises that train, tram and bus improvements are urgently required.

Tonight’s meeting also discussed the strategic direction of the Eastern Transport Coalition. This year the ETC will continue to hold the State Government into account, while also pursuing the need for Federal Government investment in public transport infrastructure. Given that Australia is now a signatory to the Kyoto Treaty it is imperative that Federal leadership is provided to curb the rising greenhouse emissions associated with the transport sector. Public transport has the potential to assist in housing affordability by reducing car dependence and in reducing greenhouse emissions.

An action plan is currently being devised and is expected to be adopted at the next meeting.

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.

Final Eastern Transport Coalition meeting for 2007

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The Eastern Transport Coalition has had a number of successes over the course of this year, including the removal of zone three in March, further bus upgrades and train timetable improvements along the Dandenong line.

Tonight’s meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on 2007 and to begin discussions around the priorities for 2008. The Eastern Transport Coalition will be issuing a submission in regard to the recently announced Liveability Inquiry from the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission (VCEC) and will be seeking discussions with the incoming Rudd Government to ensure that there is federal leadership to enhance the sustainability of our cities.

Next year will be crucial in the campaign for sustainable transport in the outer suburbs, with the results of the Eddington Inquiry due in March. The outcome of this study will determine whether the State Government, now led under John Brumby, is serious about the need to enhance public transport in our suburbs.

Rising petrol prices and the need to reduce greenhouse emissions demonstrate the need for public transport improvements. It is time for both Federal and State Governments to stop the blame game to deliver the infrastructure necessary to ensure the economic, social and environmental sustainability of Melbourne and its outer suburbs.

Talking to voters about public transport this Federal Election

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This morning, as part of the Eastern Transport Coalition’s campaign for federal funding of public transport infrastructure, I was at Ringwood Station discussing the need for federal leadership with rail and bus passengers.

While the provision of public transport is a state responsibility, federal involvement would help ensure that State Governments are held into account. As an example, federal involvement with the third track to Ringwood would help ensure that the State Government honours its 1999 election commitment of providing a track track between Box Hill and Ringwood.

A suitable model already exists for federal involvement in state issues, whereby the Federal Government pledged $80 million for the grade separation of the level crossing at Springvale Road, Nunawading. This commitment included $1.5 million directed to local government to undertake the necessary feasibility studies and it demonstrates the partnerships that could be created between local councils and the Federal Government.

This model needs to be expanded so that it includes the potential for local government to undertake the design and feasibility work for public transport projects. Public transport improvements are required to reduce traffic congestion to save money for families that are struggling under rising petrol prices.

MAV Meeting of Transport Coalitions

Posted on by alex

The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), the peak body representing local government within Victoria, organised a meeting of transport coalitions to ensure cooperation between the different local government and community organisations that are advocating for public transport improvements.

Presentations were delivered by the:

  • Western Transport Alliance;
  • Eastern Transport Coalition;
  • Metropolitan Transport Forum;
  • Coalition for People’s Transport (including the PTUA);

There is broad agreement between the various organisations that improved public transport is critical to the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of Melbourne and that the State Government must start to deliver results. Likewise, there was also consensus that the Federal Government has a role to play in keeping State Governments accountable.

With rising petrol prices and further pressures on housing affordability, public transport improvements are critical to alleviating ongoing financial hardship for families. With car dependence often costing households to 30% of their income it is clear that sustainable transport – including much need rail extensions and further bus improvements are required to ensure an economically vibrant Melbourne.

Presentation on urban sustainability and transport

Posted on by alex

This afternoon I was invited to deliver a presentation exploring the linkages between urban sustainability and public transport to the 41st Annual Geography Conference organised by the Geography Teachers Association of Victoria (GTAV).

The hour-long presentation provided a synopsis on the economic, social and environmental benefits of public transport, investigated current urban policies and examined Ringwood as a case study to demonstrate the interdependence between urban sustainability and public transport.

While the State Government appears to have neglected its goal of increasing public transport modal share to 20% by the year 2020, this target is required to mitigate rising congestion. With an annual cost of $4 billion annually, congestion is currently outpacing Melbourne’s population growth. Likewise the provision of public transport will provide transport choice to the many outer suburban households that are struggling due to rising petrol prices and the fact that private transport consumes up to 20% of budgets within these households.

The lack of public transport in Melbourne’s outer suburbs can also place non-car households at a significant disadvantage and limit the ability to participate in employment, educational, community and recreational opportunities. Similarly, obesity and health issues such as diabetes, can be symptomatic of car dependent suburbs where the potential to exercise is diminished.

In regard to environmental sustainability, transport accounts for 17% of Australia’s national greenhouse emissions and is the fastest growing sector of emissions. The figures are even more stark for individual households, where due to car dependence, transport is responsible for up to 49% of greenhouse emissions and is the largest contributing source of emissions within households.

These and other costs mean that car dependence is not sustainable and that urban sustainability cannot be achieved under current practices. While it may be claimed that excessive car usage contributes to the economy, when equating the economic, social and environmental impacts of car dependence there is an annual deficit of $16.3 billion.

Melbourne 2030, the State Government’s urban planning strategy was supposed to achieve a more sustainable future for Melbourne. While the plan identified numerous activity centres, each of which are earmarked for urban development, the public transport network that was supposed to cater to these urban centres remains underdeveloped.

This is even more apparent in the purpose-built activity centres that were initially designed to showcase the integration that was to result between transport and planning. Activity centres such as South Morang, Cranbourne East and Wyndham Vale have been denied much needed rail extensions despite their location within the rapidly developing growth corridors.

The problems experienced with Melbourne’s public transport system, such as unreliable train services, infrequent and poorly connected bus services and trams that terminate short of logical destinations can be resolved, but it requires Government will. Within Australia, Perth has proven to be an example of the improvements that can result from an integration between transport and planning and a commitment to urban sustainability. As an example, Perth recently doubled the size of its rail network, including the construction of a new 70km rail line (twice the distance of the CBD to Dandenong) and new stations are built simultaneously with urban development.

The integration that has borne results in Perth needs to be implemented in Melbourne, particularly for designated transit cities such as Ringwood. The suburb of Ringwood, located 27km east of Melbourne’s CBD, has been designated an area of higher density development but the State Government has been lacklustre in its commitment to improving public transport.

Ringwood currently suffers due to a disjointed retail precinct and transport hub which requires pedestrians to cross a six lane highway. Despite the goals of creating a sustainable community, the State Government and VicRoads have currently refused requests to make it easier to cross Maroondah Highway. Coupled with poor public transport, which includes making public transport users wait up to half an hour to travel between Ringwood and Croydon, the current culture of car dependence is exacerbated and potentially jeopardises the ability to create green open space and a new heart for Ringwood. Furthermore the lack of commitment over the redevelopment of Ringwood Station has created uncertainty for major developers resulting in unnecessary delays.

Each of these issues are interrelated, since due to poor public transport there is less open space which creates a pedestrian hostile environment and investment delays as developers wait for these issues to be rectified. While 40% of land in Melbourne used for roads and carparks, a staggering 62% of land within Ringwood is used for these purposes, leaving less land available for residential, commercial and community purposes.

While new developments, such as three storey residential buildings, are occurring the investment in public transport and hence the investor confidence in larger commercial developments is not. In particular, while residents within these new developments are encouraged to use public transport, walking and cycling as a form of travel this will not be sustainable if public transport is not improved.

Poor public transport connectivity and a lack of frequent bus services along main roads, such as Maroondah Highway, Canterbury and Wonga Roads, means that public transport usage will remain limited due to the fact that these poor levels of service fail to provide a real transport choice. The State Government must deliver significant public transport improvements to demonstrate that it is committed to creating a sustainable community within Ringwood.

The provision of sustainable transport is a key component of creating a sustainable community and increasing economic, social and environmental pressures means that action is required.