samantha in the press

Clayton level crossing among city's most dangerous
Waverley Leader
by Tim Michell
3 Sep 2013

Yarra Ranges Council urges the State Government to change restrictions on bushfire risk / State urged to change rules
Lilydale Leader
by Emily Webb
3 Sep 2013

Work restarts on sewers
Free Press Leader
4 Sep 2013

 

Up in smoke

Mountain Views Mail

by Melissa Meehan

3 Sep 2013

 

will it be good transport news for the east?

 ETC hopes for good public transport news in the budget

The Eastern Transport Coalition is looking forward to some good public transport news when the State Budget is delivered on Tuesday, ETC spokesperson Cr Samantha Dunn said today.

“Over the past year the State Government has taken steps towards addressing public transport needs in the east, with the first stage of feasibility studies completed for both Rowville Rail and Doncaster Rail,’’ Cr Dunn said.

"Both studies have been positive and the government should now maintain the momentum and provide funding to continue planning for these two important projects,” she said.

 “We also hope to see a significant increase in funding for bus services which, for many residents in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, is the only public transport within a reasonable distance of their homes.”

A lack of coordination between services, inadequate frequency, insufficient coverage and already congested roads, means that the existing bus network is uncompetitive with car travel.

The 2010 Metropolitan Bus Service Review was intended to identify and address these issues, however to date only around 8 per cent of the review’s recommendations have been implemented.

Cr Dunn also urged the government to maintain a focus on grade separations and welcomed the funding that has already been provided to remove level crossings in Mitcham, Springvale, Blackburn and Bayswater.

“The government has recognised the frustration that level crossings pose for road users and the limitations it creates in the entire public transport network and we look forward to the removal of other level crossing trouble spots in the future,” she said.

“Good public transport underpins a sustainable community. Efficient, accessible and affordable public transport provides a wide range of social, environmental and economic benefits.

“The cost of failing to deliver an integrated public transport system will be felt by the entire community through overcrowding on existing public transport, worse congestion on our roads and lost productivity.”

grade separations for blackburn and scoresby

ETC welcomes funding for Blackburn and Scoresby grade separations

The Eastern Transport Coalition has welcomed the announcement that funding has been allocated for planning and pre-construction work at two level crossings in Blackburn and Scoresby.

“The ETC has been campaigning for many years to have these level crossings removed to allow for greater efficiency on their respective train lines and to alleviate road congestion,’’ ETC spokesperson Cr Samantha Dunn said.

“The level crossings at Blackburn Rd, Blackburn and Mountain Highway and Scoresby Road, Bayswater are renowned for the traffic gridlock they create and the ETC looks forward to hearing details about what work will take place to remove them and when it will begin.”

Transport Minister Terry Mulder announced yesterday that that the State Government would spend $52.3 million to “kick start planning and works at…seven dangerous level crossings around Melbourne”, including those at Blackburn and Scoresby.

Cr Dunn said it was also pleasing to hear the Minster reiterate that construction would begin later this year at Mitcham and Springvale level crossings, with a scheduled completion time by the end of 2014.

“There are many other rail/road crossing points that need to be removed if the government truly wants to alleviate road congestion while at the same time allowing Melbourne’s public transport network to operate at its optimal efficiency,” Cr Dunn said.

 “Our residents are also waiting for the government to commit funding for Stage 2 of the Rowville Rail Study, implement more than 90 per cent of the recommendations from the 2010 Metropolitan Bus Services Review and begin work stage 2 of the Doncaster Rail study.

“We hope that there will be more public transport announcements for the eastern suburbs in the forthcoming budget to address the shortfall in funding that the region has suffered for too many years.”

The ETC is made up of seven eastern suburban councils, and represents the public transport needs of more than one million residents.

etc welcomes public transport initiatives

ETC WELCOMES PUBLIC TRANSPORT INITIATIVES

The Eastern Transport Coalition has welcomed the announcement of feasibility studies for Rowville and Doncaster rail networks as part of the State Budget 2011.

The feasibility studies will examine a range of issues related to the projects, including construction, operation, land use and potential environmental impacts.

ETC Chairperson councillor Samantha Dunn said the funding announcement was a great win for public transport and commuters in the east and outer east.

"The community has been crying out for these missing links in our rail network, so it’s good to see that these well overdue projects are back on the table," Cr Dunn said.

"It is important that the government consults broadly and extensively to capture the needs of commuters and the business community, and the ETC looks forward to assisting the government in their consultative process," she said.

"The economic and environmental benefits of an extended rail network in the east of Melbourne are enormous.

"As coalition of seven municipalities in the east of Melbourne, the ETC has an extensive knowledge of our local communities and can provide important local knowledge to the consultation on the feasibility studies."

Cr Dunn said the ETC also welcomed the attention and focus on grade separations.

"Traffic congestion around rail crossings has a real impact on the road system and also impacts on the ability for train services to run more frequently," she said.

"We’re glad that the government has recognised that Rooks Road in Mitcham and Springvale Road in Springvale need priority attention."

Cr Dunn said while the feasibility studies were a welcome budget announcement, it was disappointing that the Upwey station hadn’t been included for a premium upgrade.

"An upgrade to a fully staffed station would have been of great benefit to local commuters," she said.

"It seems the only improvement we can expect in Yarra Ranges is the focus on grade separations on the Belgrave and Lilydale lines, and although welcome, this falls well short of community expectations."

The ETC is made up of seven eastern suburban councils, and represents the needs of more than one million residents.