Tag: transport and infrastructure advisory group

MAV TIAG first meeting for 2008

Posted on by alex

The MAV Transport and Infrastructure Advisory Group provides policy advice to the MAV board in matters relating to transport and infrastructure.

Today’s meeting focused on discussing the continued efforts for federal funding of public transport, as well as the MAV’s submissions into the Transport and Liveability Inquiry and the Transport Legislative Review. The MAV submissions have focused heavily on the need for stronger integration between planning and transport and for the increased provision of public transport services and infrastructure.

I also had the opportunity of providing an update on the Eastern Transport Coalition’s activities including its priorities over the next year. It is imperative that collaboration continues between the various transport groups to ensure a cohesive approach to the campaign for public transport improvements.

MAV Transport and Infrastructure Advisory Group meeting

Posted on by alex

The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) is the peak body representing local government within the State. To ensure that policies are reflective of the sector, the organisation has established a number of advisory groups to provide policy advice to the MAV board.

I have been a delegate on the MAV Transport and Infrastructure Advisory Group since being elected in November 2005. The group provides strategic advice in regard to transport and other infrastructure issues within Melbourne and Victoria.

The group meets five times a year and is particularly focused on the need for public transport improvements within outer suburban municipalities.

MAV TIAG: Transport update

Posted on by alex

Today’s MAV Transport and Infrastructure Advisory Group meeting included a further presentation in regard to the East-West Needs Assessment (otherwise known as the Eddington Study). The presenters spoke about the study scope and that it will include an examination of the rail and public transport needs for the western suburbs.

The final report from the East-West Needs Assessment will be due around May next year and is likely to include a number of recommendations for Melbourne’s overall infrastructure needs.

The advisory group was also updated on the recent motion to the MAV board, which will allow the MAV to develop a research paper investigating federal involvement in urban public transport and the current taxation disincentives for public transport usage. This research paper will be developed in conjunction with other transport coalitions and will serve as a framework for the MAV’s position on the issue.

MAV TIAG meeting – increasing collaboration across local government

Posted on by alex

This month the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) Transport and Infrastructure Advisory Group (TIAG) meeting focused on further developing its three core themes including infrastructure needs in growth areas, rail freight issues and federal funding for sustainable transport.

While the State Government seems more than able to set ‘aspirational’ targets, the government has demonstrated very little compulsion to actually such goals. This is clearly evident in regard to the State Government goal of increasing the proportion of rail freight to and from ports to 30% by the year 2010. While it is laudable to have such goals and thus ensure the efficient movement of goods and the mitigation of traffic congestion, the State Government appears to be dismally failing in achieving this target. In fact Appendix B of the 2007-2008 State Budget Papers clearly show that rail freight usage fell over the past twelve months.

Proportion of freight transported to and from ports via rail (source: Appendix B - State Budget Papers 2007-2008)

The State Government has likewise shown similar contempt for its goal of increasing public transport modal share to 20% by the year 2020. While modal share is currently increasing, it is becomingly unlikely that the government will achieve this goal, unless it substantially boosts the level of public transport services.

Public transport modal share (source: Appendix B - State Budget Papers 2007-2008)

This lack of commitment places both the community and local government in a precarious position due to worsening levels of traffic congestion and greenhouse emissions. The creation of a public transport and freight network that achieves significant modal shift is justified on economic, social and environmental grounds and yet the State Government has still been unable to coordinate its response to such targets.

With this continued State Government inaction, one of the key outcomes from the meeting was the need for greater collaboration between the many council advocacy groupings, including the Metropolitan Transport Forum and the Eastern Transport Coalition. Increased collaboration between these groups will lead to a concerted advocacy campaign and hopefully encourage the government to finally get its act together.

MAV Transport and Infrastructure Advisory Group – May 2007 meeting

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This month’s Transport and Infrastructure Group included presentations from the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) who discussed the Federal Government’s AusLink program and Meredith Sussex, the Coordinator General of Infrastructure, who spoke about her role within the Department of Infrastructure.

The Melbourne 2030 review process, which is expected to formally include community input in the latter half of the year will be the key testament as to how seriously the government views the need to integrate land-use planning and transport. While Melbourne 2030 and the Government’s Meeting Our Transport Challenges both claimed to provide such integration, reality has demonstrated that this is still sorely lacking.

MAV Transport and Infrastructure Advisory Group – March 2007

Posted on by alex

The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) is the peak body representing local councils within the state. The transport infrastructure advisory group is charged to provide advice to the MAV board on the transport infrastructure needs for Melbourne.

Today’s meeting included a presentation on the East-West Needs Assessment, which is currently being undertaken by the State Government. This study is charged with the responsibility to plan for Melbourne’s future infrastructure needs within the inner eastern and western suburbs.

The recently released Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission (VCEC) report into congestion clearly identified the need for the state government to bring forward a number of essential transport projects, such rail extensions and bus improvements, to ease Melbourne’s worsening traffic congestion.

It is imperative that the East-West Needs Assessment provides a holistic solution to Melbourne’s transport needs and considers public transports such as the much needed Doncaster rail line and further improvements. Melbourne needs to be provided with real transport choice, in the form of an efficient, frequent and readily available public transport, to provide some relief to rising petrol prices and worsening traffic congestion.

MAV Transport and Infrastructure Group – first meeting for 2007

Posted on by alex

The MAV’s Transport and Infrastructure Advisory Group is charged with providing recommendations to the MAV Board on matters relating to the infrastructure needs of Melbourne and Victoria.

Over the course of this year the group will be focusing on federal funding for public transport, the infrastructure needs for Melbourne’s growth corridors and issues relating to Victoria’s rail freight network.

Australia remains the only OECD nation where the Federal Government does not invest in urban public transport infrastructure and this is particularly apparent in areas that are experiencing high rates of urban growth. Likewise the State Government will not meet its goal of increasing the percentage rail freight unless urgent investment is provided.

AusLink, the Federal Government’s transport strategy, needs to be broadened in scope to incorporate urban public transport to ensure a holistic approach to Australia’s transport infrastructure.

MAV Transport and Infrastructure Group (Federal Funding) – first meeting for 2007

Posted on by alex

The MAV’s Transport and Infrastructure Advisory Group (TIAG) consists of councillors and council officers who are preparing a response to the infrastructure needs of Victoria within the context of this year’s Federal Election.

To enable this process the group is focusing on three specific areas, of which federal funding for sustainable transport is one of these categories. Only a national framework on urban sustainability will ensure that the improvement of the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of our cities.

Australia remains the only OECD nation where the Federal Government does not provide funding for public transport.

Federal Government programs, such as AusLink, which provide matching funding for road projects, need to be expanded in scope to include urban public transport infrastructure to ensure a holistic approach to the transport needs of our cities. Ensuring matching funding for such projects would also prevent State Governments from simply trying to shift their responsibilities onto the Federal Government.

MAV Transport and Infrastructure Advisory Group

Posted on by alex

The MAV Transport and Infrastructure Group is focusing on three areas for 2007:

  • Federal funding for Transport;
  • Freight and rail infrastructure;
  • Infrastructure issues related to growth.

Working groups have been established to focus on each of the specific issues and I am within the Federal funding for transport group.

The MAV Transport and Infrastructure Advisory Group and each of the separate working groups will continue to meet throughout 2007 to ensure progress on the issues discussed.

MAV Transport and Infrastructure Advisory Group – Local Area Access Programs

Posted on by alex

The Municipal Association of Victoria’s (MAV) Transport and Infrastructure Advisory Group consists of councillors and representatives from Victoria’s councils to gain an insight into the transport and infrastructure needs across Melbourne and Victoria.

Today’s meeting including a presentation from the Department of Infrastructure (DOI) on funding available for Local Area Access Programs and the latest incarnation of TravelSmart.  The Local Area Access Program provides the opportunity for councils to request funding for infrastructure works that strengthen walking and community participation within a municipality.

During this meeting I raised the issues surrounding the lack of pedestrian guidelines during roadside construction works as mentioned during Maroondah’s Disability Forum. The MAV as the collective voice for local government in Victoria will pursue these issues further.