Tag: state politics

Launch of Ringwood Going Places

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The Minister for Planning, Justin Madden, was in Ringwood today to launch the branding of Ringwood Going Places. The pieces to rejuvenate Ringwood are coming together such as the passing of the precinct plans for the redevelopment of the Town Centre.

One significant piece that remains unresolved is Ringwood Station. The redevelopment of the station is critical to ensuring the success of the Ringwood Transit City and yet a commitment from the State Government has not been forthcoming.

Successful urban revitalisation requires collaboration and partnership between State and Local Governments, it is time for the State Government to show it is truly committed to the Ringwood Transit City by committing funding to the station redevelopment in the upcoming State Budget.

Delegates' Report: Community Partnerships in Removing Zone Three

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Tonight I will be reporting on the Eastern Transport Coalition meeting held on the 19th of October and the outcome of our ‘fair fares’ campaign.

The Eastern Transport Coalition’s campaign in seeking the abolition of zone three was obviously a success with both major parties; first the Victorian Liberal Party and then copied by the ALP to commit to the remove the inequitable existence of zone three fares.

This campaign and this wonderful outcome was only possible due to the support of the wider community. I am pleased to say that the survey results at Heatherdale undertaken by Maroondah City Council, received one of the highest level of responses.

I’ll table the analysis from the Eastern Transport Coalition but over 60% of people chose Heatherdale Station simple due to the cheaper zone two fare.

ETC survey results for Heatherdale Station
Securing the commitment from the State political parties to abolish zone three demonstrates the success that can occur when council’s work both together with other like-minded councils and with the community.

The successful outcome of this campaign was due to each and every person that responded to the Eastern Transport Coalition’s survey, the advocacy of Maroondah City Council and the strong partnership that has been established with the eastern council’s through the Eastern Transport Coalition.

This outcome demonstrates the strength and power of advocacy when councils work together with the community to ensure positive outcomes. I would like to thank everyone that completed the survey and did their bit to remove zone three.

To any sceptics out there, it is worth remembering that there was a time when people said zone three would never be removed. Proactive partnerships with the community, councils and the region ensured that zone three will soon be history.

Maroondah Leader: Commuters the winners in two zones

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The Maroondah Leader has reported on the policy announcements delivered by the Victorian Liberal Party and the ALP to abolish zone three:

TRANSPORT costs will be slashed for outer-suburban commuters, including many Maroondah residents, whoever wins the November election.

Both the Bracks Government and Liberal Opposition last week pledged to scrap Zone 3 and switch to a two-zone system next year.

Maroondah City Council, as part of the Eastern Transport Coalition, had campaigned endlessly for the abolition of zone three.

Public Transport Users Association spokesman and Maroondah councillor Alex Makin said the news was “a victory for the outer-east community”.

“It’s something residents in conjunction with the Eastern Transport Coalition were campaigning for,” Mr Makin said. “We welcome the Opposition announcement and the carbon copy released by the Bracks Government.”

Four years ago when the Opposition pledged to abolition zone three the Bracks Government, through its Transport Minister Peter Batchelor, claimed that “capacity constraints” meant that the policy was ‘unworkable’ (Libs promise fare cuts to outer areas, The Age, Nov 7, 2002. pg. 9). Like other claims of ‘capacity constraints’ (such as being unable to deliver the South Morang rail extension or Rowville rail line), it is clear that such constraints are purely fabricated to excuse inaction.

The Opposition is to be congratulated for taking the lead on seeking to abolish one of the gross inequities that had existed in the pricing of Melbourne’s public transport system.

Maroondah Leader: Libs' free transport plan for children, students put on the grill

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The Maroondah Leader has reported on the Victorian Liberal Party’s plan to provide free public transport for children and students.

Public Transport Users Association spokesman, Maroondah councillor Alex Makin, welcomed the free public transport plan, but questioned how it would increase service levels.

“To drastically improve public transport patronage there must be an increased level of service, particularly in the eastern region,” Cr Makin said. “People cannot use public transport if it’s not available.”

While the plan has some merit in encouraging a culture of public transport usage (similar to how Walking School Bus provides a culture of encouraging walking) it is imperative that service levels are improved to ensure more frequent, readily available and efficient public transport services.

The Age: Libs told to do better

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Amid news of a new leader for the Victorian Liberal Party, the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has challenged the State Opposition to focus on the issue of sustainable transport instead of condemning Melbourne to unsustainable and costly car dependence.

The Age has reported on the PTUA’s call for these policies to be revised:

Association spokesman Alex Makin said the Liberals must revise transport commitments and drop ideas such as half tolls on EastLink and more road tunnels.

Since entering government in 1999 the Bracks Government has delivered very little for public transport. Despite making endless promises towards train and tram extensions and much needed bus improvements, very little has actually been delivered.

The Bracks Government has broken or radically diminished many of its’ promises. It is therefore up to the Opposition to provide a genuine alternative.

Continue reading “The Age: Libs told to do better”

Robert Doyle And EastLink Tolls

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FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
Media Release – Thursday, 15 September 2005

‘Half Hearted’ Policies Will Condemn Melbourne to Petrol Dependence

The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has challenged the Victorian Liberal Party to pledge and deliver a comprehensive Transport Policy to ensure sustainable relief against mounting petrol prices.

“The Liberal Party must develop a Transport Policy that looks beyond the single issue of tolls on the Mitcham-Frankston Freeway and looks beyond endless road building”, PTUA spokesman and Ringwood resident Alex Makin said. “Rising petrol prices have resulted in increased public transport patronage demonstrating that people desperately need and want an alternative to car dependence”.

The construction and tolling of Eastlink was announced after the breaking of several key public transport promises in Melbourne’s east which have not yet been delivered by the Bracks Government.

“Melbourne needs a government with a vision to deliver improved public transport and hence ensure the future economic prosperity of Melbourne’s east and southeast”, Mr. Makin said. “The fact is that as petrol prices increase households have less disposable income for other purchases thus threatening the viability of the strong retail precincts that exist within Ringwood, Knox or Frankston”.

Petrol prices are likely to exceed $1.30 per litre by the end of the year with many experts predicting that they will keep climbing in the years ahead. This has renewed concerns about the lack of new rail and tram extensions and the poor level of service provided by Melbourne’s bus network, which often does not run during evenings or on Sundays. The construction of the Doncaster and Rowville train lines, the Knox and Doncaster Road tram extensions, the elimination of the Springvale Road level crossing, and a vastly improved bus network to ensure frequent and readily available services would cost less than $1 billion, far less than the estimates involved in reversing the tolling decision.

“Many public transport promises from the Bracks government have been either broken or radically diminished. It is therefore up to the Opposition to provide a genuine alternative and hence embrace the need for vastly improved public transport. The ‘no tolls’ policy and continued road building has the potential to neglect public transport and hence fail to secure the future social and economic prosperity of Melbourne and its outer eastern suburbs”, Mr. Makin concluded.

About the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA):

Founded in 1976, the PTUA is the recognised consumer organisation representing passengers of public transport. The PTUA is a non-profit, voluntary organisation with no political affiliation, which lobbies governments and public transport authorities in the interest of all users of public transport.

ALL MEDIA ENQUIRIES: ALEX MAKIN ON 0409 136 213

ENDS