build it now, we've waited long enough

Public transport priorities will be a major factor influencing votes at the upcoming State Election according to new research results released by the Eastern Transport Coalition as part of its Commuters Count election campaign.

Conducted by Essential Research, the Eastern Suburbs Transport Poll of more than 1000 residents in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, found that 64 per cent of residents rated improving and expanding public transport as a top or very high priority, and the majority of respondents surveyed said they were more likely to vote for a party that committed to building key rail projects.

Significantly, the research also found that three out of four people believe that the delivery of rail projects needs to be accelerated and delivered sooner than the 2025-50 schedule the State Government has currently set for Melbourne Metro, Doncaster Rail and Rowville Rail.

We've been waiting long enough for public transport projects in the east, residents aren't prepared to wait another couple of generations.

The survey revealed that people believe the current timing for major rail infrastructure projects is unacceptable, with 75 per cent saying Melbourne Metro, Doncaster and Rowville Rail should be built sooner.

How many more studies can we be subjected to, time to get on with the building, not the stalling.

Residents in Melbourne’s east have had enough of public transport plans and studies that don’t produce results because they are unfunded or pushed so far into the future that they are continually relegated to the bottom of the list.

Don't forget you can tell the ETC what you think on the Commuters Count facebook page or tweet us using #commuterscount.

 

Some selected highlights of the poll include:

• 64% think improving and expanding public transport is the top priority or very important ranking with education and above water, new roads and the environment
• Three-quarters of respondents believed that the rail projects should be built sooner - only 10% thought the timing was acceptable and a further 7% thought they did not need to be built at all.
• 69% agree that if all the projects are not built there will be serious impacts on traffic and quality of life in Melbourne while only 17% think that the transport system will cope until the Government can afford to build them.
• 55% believe it is similarly important for the State Government to invest in major road and rail projects. 
• 28% think the rail projects are more important and 14% think the East-West link is more important.
• There was strong support for Government investment in infrastructure. Only 18% think that it is more important for the Government to reduce their spending to return the budget to surplus.

public transport commitment needed in budget

Public transport commitment needed in Budget

 
The priority and funding allocated to public transport projects in the next state Budget will be the true indicator of the State Government’s commitment in this area, Eastern Transport Coalition chairperson, Cr Samantha Dunn said today.

Cr Dunn said there was a backlog of public transport projects across the eastern region, identified through studies, plans and audits over decades.

She said the ETC supported the Victorian Government’s plan for expanding and improving the rail network but wanted it delivered quicker.

“The million residents of the eastern suburbs can’t wait until 2028 for the generational improvements needed for rail. By that time it will be a generation since they were promised and that’s too long,” Cr Dunn said.

“The current debate about road versus rail ignores the real need of commuters and businesses alike – we need better transport infrastructure, not choices between modes.

“Residents in Melbourne’s east have had enough of public transport plans and studies that don’t produce results because they are unfunded or pushed so far into the future that they are continually relegated the bottom of the list by other plans and projects.”

As the next State Budget is prepared, the ETC has asked the government to include in its short term priorities: funding the Melbourne Metro project, funding for stage two of the Doncaster Rail Feasibility Study, an upgrade of bus services, an increased program of grade separations, a move towards high capacity signalling along the rail network and improved cycling opportunities.

The key medium-term public transport priority for the region is improved rail services, specifically building the Doncaster and Rowville Rail lines.

Cr Dunn said the government had identified the Monash and Dandenong South National Employment Clusters as critical drivers of economic growth in the eastern region.

However this potential will only be realised with the delivery of key transport projects, namely the Melbourne Metro and subsequent Rowville and Dandenong rail projects.

"Political parties on both sides have agreed that Melbourne Metro is critical to the delivery of future development around Melbourne. Now is the time to put those words into action and provide funding to start this project in the short term,’’ Cr Dunn said.

  Cr Dunn said the ETC acknowledged that the rail projects would take time to complete and for that reason, bus services in the region must be improved and expanded in the short term.

“Melbourne’s bus services have been the subject of numerous review and recommendations, including a Metropolitan Bus Service Review, completed in 2010. Unfortunately, less than 10 per cent of the recommendations from that review have been funded and realised,” she said.

“Funding needs to be provided to ensure that there are enough buses to meet demand and that travel times are improved to make it a viable option to car travel.”

Cr Dunn encouraged commuters to share their views and hopes for the coming State Budget via the ETC’s Commuters Count Facebook page or the hash tag #commuterscount on Twitter.

“As the State election draws closer, the ETC will be campaigning for better outcomes across all modes of public transport and for all commuters in the outer east,’’ Cr Dunn said.

“Now is the time for residents in Melbourne’s east to speak up and tell the government that they deserve more than they have been given in the past 40 years.”

alp transport plan doesn’t go far enough

 

                                            Tuesday, 19 November 2013

The Eastern Transport Coalition has welcomed the State ALP’s pledge to significantly invest in public transport as outlined in its Project 10,000 document, but disappointed that the plan gives no actual commitment to build Doncaster or Rowville Rail.

ETC chairperson, Cr Samantha Dunn said Melbourne commuters were now faced with two imperfect and incomplete transport plans, despite years of studies and plans, including State 1 of the Rowville Rail Study and Doncaster Rail study completed only this year.

“While the Napthine Government has a clear policy with commitments and timeframes around Metro, Rowville and Doncaster, they don’t intend to deliver these projects until sometime in 2025-2050,’’ Cr Dunn said.

“The ALP says it will speed up the delivery of Melbourne Metro because it will allow for more network expansions, but will only commit ‘in principle’ to Rowville and Doncaster, stating that they will review the priority of these projects.

“Doncaster and Rowville risk being the most well considered and unbuilt rail lines in the city’s history.”

Cr Dunn said the ETC applauded the commitment to urgently remove more level crossings in the outer east and was pleased that this action now had largely bi-partisan support.

“What is concerning is the silence on bus services, which have similarly been the subject of numerous review and recommendations and still not enough action over the decades,’’ she said.

“For many residents in Melbourne east buses are the only public transport available within a reasonable distance of their homes, yet they are forced to deal with overcrowded buses and excessively long journey times, with no commitment for improvement in sight.”

“Both sides of politics need to do better and the ETC will be campaigning for better outcomes across all modes of public transport and for all commuters in the outer east over the next year.”

Cr Dunn encouraged commuters to share their thoughts about the plan via the ETC’s Commuters Count Facebook page or the hash tag #commuterscount on Twitter.

“If residents in Melbourne’s east want to receive more than they have in the past 40 years, now is the time to make your opinions known.’’

 

samantha in the media

Feeding ban voted down, ruffling a few feathers
by David Schout
Yarra Ranges Weekly
4 Jun 2013

Yarra Shire's memo to Abbott
Yarra Ranges Weekly
4 Jun 2013

3MDR Judy Ann and Company
Interview with Judy-Ann

Panel to referee fast food slow burn
by Emily Webb
Leader Newspaper
3 Jun 2013

Planning future under scrutiny
by Kath Gannaway
Mail Newpapers
4 Jun 2013

Hills controversy spills over
Mail Newspaper
4 Jun 2013

No cocky ban
by Emma Sun
Mail Newspaper
4 Jun 2013

Feathers fly as bid fails to fine cockatoo feeders
by Emily Webb
Leader Newspapers
3 Jun 2013

Panel to chew over fast food proposal
by Emily Webb
Free Press Leader
5 Jun 2013

Waging war on weeds
Free Press Leader
5 Jun 2013

Free to feed cockies
by Emily Webb
Free Press Leader
5 Jun 2013

federal funding for public transport a must

report from the roundtable - 28 may

At this week's council meeting I moved a motion that Council:
1.    Write to the Federal Opposition Leader, Mr Tony Abbott, with a copy to Tony Smith MP, advocating for Federal funding to be allocated to urban public transport projects.
2.    Advise the Premier of Victoria and Minister for Public Transport of Council’s resolution.

I have been very concerned about comments made by Federal Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, where he said "We have no history of funding urban rail and I think it’s important that we stick to our knitting and the Commonwealth’s knitting when it comes to funding infrastructure is roads.” 

As chairperson of the Eastern Transport Coalition, which comprises seven municipalities from Melbourne’s East, (City of Greater Dandenong, City of Knox, City of Manningham, City of Maroondah, City of Monash, City of Whitehorse and Yarra Ranges Council) representing approximately one million residents, I am acutely aware of the importance of federal funding for urban rail projects.

The Eastern Transport Coalition advocates for sustainable and integrated transport services to reduce the level of car dependency to secure the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of Melbourne’s outer east and aims to work in partnership with Federal and State Governments to ensure the future sustainability of Eastern Melbourne.

The ETC has over many years advocated for funding of public transport improvements by the Federal Government in partnership with the State Government.

The ETC has welcomed Federal investment in public transport over recent years and is encouraged by the recent release of the Federal budget for 2013/14, with the government committing to support the Melbourne Metro Rail Tunnel, subject to matching funding from the State.  The Federal opposition however has declared a coalition government would not invest in urban rail projects, which is of great concern.

The government has established Infrastructure Australia to provide advice on strategic projects for the country.

Infrastructure Australia advises governments, investors and infrastructure owners on a wide range of issues. These include:

• Australia's current and future infrastructure needs
• Mechanisms for financing infrastructure investments, and
• Policy, pricing and regulation and their impacts on investment and on the efficiency of the delivery, operation and use of national infrastructure networks.

From their website;

 

Infrastructure Australia believes that, to maintain the economic success and environmental sustainability of Australia's cities, the time has come for an unprecedented commitment to the creation of world-class public transport in our cities. 

Infrastructure Australia is therefore recommending, for the first time in Australian history, significant Australian Government investment in public transport in our cities.

A number of immediate priorities are identified, alongside a list of future public transport projects which, although still under development, show real potential to transform our cities.

Infrastructure Australia recommends targeted investment in innovative public transport systems which drive productivity and urban renewal in our major cities to maintain their economic success and environmental sustainability.

Melbourne’s East continues to require improvements in public transport such as the extension of heavy rail to Doncaster, extension of heavy rail to Rowville, duplication of single track sections of the Belgrave and Lilydale line, upgrading of the Dandenong rail corridor, removal of at grade level crossings, bus service improvements and other public transport efficiency improvements. Many of the improvements to the rail network in Melbourne rely on the construction of the Melbourne Metro tunnel to build capacity in the network.

Without support from the Federal government, the State government will not be able to deliver these projects for many decades to come.  It is therefore imperative that funding support for public transport is provided at a Federal level to meet community needs, achieve economic success, and ensure ongoing environmental sustainability.

The case for federal funding needs to be made in the strongest possible terms as to why it's so important for Yarra Ranges, let alone the east of Melbourne.

I'm pleased to report the motion was supported unanimously by councillors (note Crs McCarthy and Avery absent).

samantha in the press

East-West Link plans trips up trainspotters
by David Schout and Kristian Silva
Yarra Ranges Weekly
14 May 2013

MP says East West link won't cost Doncaster a train line
by Kristian Silva
Weekly Review
14 May 2013

Road over rail complaint (x2)
by Emma Sun
Mail Newspapers
14 May 2013