However ETC Chairperson, Yarra Ranges Councillor Samantha Dunn said there were several projects absent from the Premier’s list that were crucial to delivering an integrated and sustainable public transport network to residents in Melbourne’s east.

“The Eastern Transport Coalition represents approximately one million residents in eastern Melbourne, yet there was little mention of the projects that these communities have told us are important to them,” said Cr Dunn.

“We are concerned that the Premier did not mention either the Rowville or Doncaster Rail construction projects – studies for both are currently in progress. Both projects have been sought by residents and been in various stages of planning for at least four decades.

“While we support plans to increasing capacity on the Dandenong line, including nine-carriage trains, it will require significant infrastructure upgrades and therefore is not a short term solution. We are also concerned that there was no mention of other rail lines.

“In terms of grade separations, it is good to see Blackburn on the list, but there needs to be serious consideration about how we deal with this issue across the entire rail network.

“We would also like to see better interchanges at Ringwood, Dandenong and Box Hill, linking rail and bus services and providing a viable alternative to travelling by car.

Cr Dunn said the ETC was keen to work with both the State and Federal Governments to achieve an integrated transport plan that provided better links between rail, trams and buses, optimised the services currently provided and provided new links where needed.

“Integrated transport and land-use planning is crucial to fixing the deficiencies of the past and to ensure we have a viable, efficient and well-patronised public transport network into the future,” Cr Dunn said.

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.

ENDS

Media enquiries: Samantha Dunn: 0407 364 509

Council is committed to making sure the local community, and those who travel through the municipality, have access to transport options that are sustainable, convenient, accessible, safe and enhance the liveability of the city.

The final strategy will guide the delivery of Council programs and highlight the priorities for advocating to state and federal governments for improved transport infrastructure and services. 

Submissions must be received by Council by 5pm on 21 April 2011 and will be considered in finalising the strategy. 

For more information please click on the link below to visit the Whithorse website

 http://www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/Transport-Strategy.html

The Eastern Transport Coalition (ETC) has welcomed the State Government’s announcement of a $2 million feasibility study into the construction of the Rowville Rail Link.

The study will examine a range of issues related to the proposed project, including its construction, operation, land use and potential environmental impacts.

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

 “For years the ETC has been advocating for more rail links in the outer east to provide residents with increased and improved public transport options,” Cr Dunn said.

 “It’s great to see the government listening to our concerns on the need for more rail extensions in the outer east, which would help ease congestion while providing more affordable transport alternatives,” she said.

“The ETC believes provision of extra rail links is essential to help solve Melbourne’s public transport issues. We look forward to participating in the feasibility study, and hope to see a similar study undertaken on a rail extension to Doncaster in the very near future.”

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

“Around 60 residents and public transport users braved horrible weather to ask questions directly of the major political parties on Wednesday night,” Cr Van de Vreede said.

“It’s fair to say most were very disappointed by the answers they received,” he said.

Cr Van de Vreede said that the most pressing local issue at the forum was the badly needed upgrade to Ringwood station, to increase accessibility, amenity, safety and capacity.

“While the Greens party committed to the ask put forward by Maroondah City Council and the ETC should they win the balance of power, the ALP and the Liberal Party were reluctant to commit to the project in any specific or meaningful way,” he said.

The forum coincided with the launch of Maroondah City Council’s ‘Missing Piece’ campaign, which focuses on the Ringwood station upgrade.

“Council has created a Ringwood Central Activities District jigsaw which highlights the residential, commercial, commercial development in Ringwood and how they are all linked in with the station,” Maroondah Mayor Cr Alex Makin said.

“The jigsaw highlights the substantial residential developments, the commercial investment and the significant community facilities, which are available within the Ringwood Central Activities District,” he said.

“The community clearly sees Ringwood Station as a priority with over 2000 signatures calling for the upgrade and over 500 visitations on Council’s social media campaign.  It is time for each state political party to commit to delivering the missing piece and to fund an accessible, safe and integrated transport interchange for,” Cr Makin concluded.

Cr Van de Vreede said that the ETC Public Transport Forums were intended to inform residents of the east about how their candidates proposed to address critical needs for public transport in Melbourne’s east.

“Eastern residents have been neglected in public transport planning, and these forums provide an opportunity for those residents to ask the hard questions of those who would seek to represent them,” Cr Van de Vreede said.

“The current Victorian Transport Plan is based on the Eddington report, which ignores anything east of Warrigal Road. That’s why there’s not much in there for eastern residents.”

“Unfortunately the major parties don’t appear to appreciate the desperate need for a proper study into eastern public transport – instead we get a piecemeal approach that lacks any real strategy,” Cr Van de Vreede said.

“Public transport is a key state election issue, and we want all of our residents to be fully informed about the transport plans of the major parties before they go to the ballot box,” he said.

Cr Van de Vreede expressed his appreciation that Mr Brian Tee, Parliamentary Secretary for Public Transport, Richard Dalla-Riva MLA, and Greens party candidates Chris Padgham (Warrandyte) and Justin-Paul Sammons (Kilsyth) were able to attend the forum.

“We appreciate the time our political representatives and candidates gave to us, and we also note that several other local candidates from major parties were in attendance,” Cr Van de Vreede said.

“Unfortunately while the major parties continue to ignore sustainable public transport in the east, their constituents will remain disillusioned and, worse, remain in their cars, adding to congestion,” he said.

Cr Van de Vreede said upcoming forums at Yarra Ranges Council (Mooroolbark Community Centre, October 20), Knox and Monash City Councils (Knox Civic Centre, October 27), and Manningham City Council (October 27) would provide further opportunities for residents to ask public transport questions directly to the major parties.

To register to attend the forums, residents can visit www.etc.org.au or call their participating Council.  Residents can also submit questions to be asked at the forums online, or ask their candidates on the night.

Further Information
Simon Tolstrup, CPR
0408 331 356

Cr Dunn will nominally remain as ETC Chair but will not be representing ETC in official meetings or acting as its spokesperson in the coming months.

“I remain deeply committed to securing better transport for the east. However, I want to eliminate any possibility that the ETC agenda might be compromised by party politics,” Cr Dunn said.

Cr Mick Van de Vreede, of the City of Knox, will take over Cr Dunn’s duties. Cr Van de Vreede is founding Chair of ETC.

The outcomes of the latest batch of bus service views showed the continued neglect of transport support in the East by the Victorian Government, ETC Chair Cr Samantha Dunn said today.

“The Government reviews of bus services in Casey, Cardinia and Greater Dandenong were an opportunity to fix a bus system that is bursting at the seams,” Cr Dunn said.

“While the Minister for Public Transport has announced $4.8 million in funding for buses, barely any of that money will be spent in Dandenong,” she said.

Cr Dunn said that this lack of funding was typical of the current Government approach to public transport in the East.

“Frankly, we’re disappointed but not surprised. It is time this government looked seriously at providing sustainable transport options right across Melbourne rather than focussing on a few key electorates,” Cr Dunn said.

“We’ve been told that buses are the answer and that the Government doesn’t think it is worth looking at other possibilities like rail extensions,” she said.

“If buses are the answer then the Government needs to get serious about fixing the system in all areas, not just those in which they feel they may be electorally vulnerable.”

City of Greater Dandenong Councillor Roz Blades said that Dandenong residents were among those who signed a recent petition to the State Government to act on transport.

“We had 13,000 signatures from Eastern residents who want better transport options, and thousands of those were from Dandenong residents,” Cr Blades said.

“Many of those same people took part in the consultation for the bus reviews, thinking they would be listened to. Sadly, we have been ignored once again,” she said.

Cr Dunn said that there was still time for this government to make a commitment to Melbourne’s east.

“This election year provides a perfect opportunity for this government to show that it is listening to the million or so residents east of Warrigal road who are forced to drive their cars to work because they have no viable alternative,” Cr Dunn said.

“ETC will continue to work with the Transport Minister to address the shortfall of sustainable transport options for residents of Melbourne’s east,” she said.

Further Information Simon Tolstrup, CPR 0408 331 356

“While more transport planning is desperately needed in the outer East, we keep seeing public transport funds being directed to the same groups of electorates,” Cr Dunn said.

“ETC recently submitted a petition on behalf of more than one million residents in the East who want better transport options. It’s time the government stopped neglecting the East on transport policy,” she said.

>>ends<<

Further Information

Simon Tolstrup, CPR

0408 331 356

Mayors and Councillors from seven of Melbourne’s eastern suburban Councils – who represent about a quarter of Melbourne’s population – gathered on the Parliaments steps today to send a message to the Victorian Government that transport needs in the east are not being met.

Presenting the monster petition to the Minister for Transport, Martin Pakula, Eastern Transport Coalition Chairperson Cr Samantha Dunn said that Eastern suburbs residents have been neglected by Government for too long.

“It’s time this government looked seriously at providing sustainable transport options right across Melbourne rather than focussing on a few key electorates,” Cr Dunn said.

 “The Eastern Transport Coalition represents seven councils in the East whose residents are crying out for more public transport. The petition we’re presenting today has over 13,000 signatures, each one of them a demand of Government to end the neglect,” she said.

 Cr Dunn said that the ETC petition called on Victorian Government to address the significant gaps in the provision of and planning for public transport in Greater Dandenong, Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash, Whitehorse, and Yarra Ranges.

The petition seeks commitments from the Government to modify the plan to include:

1. A full and public feasibility study for a heavy rail line to Rowville,
2. A full and public feasibility study for a heavy rail line to Doncaster
3. A greater commitment to the extension of the Metro rail tunnel from Domain to Caulfield,
4. A full and public feasibility study for an increase in capacity on the Belgrave/Lilydale and Glen Waverly lines,
5. Improved facilities for passengers, particularly at interchanges located in central activity districts – Ringwood, Dandenong and Box Hill,
6. Fully accessible public transport facilities and vehicles Cr Dunn said that there was still time for this government to make a commitment to Melbourne’s east.

“This election year provides a perfect opportunity for this government to show that it is listening to the million or so residents east of Warrigal road who are forced to drive their cars to work because they have few viable alternatives,” Cr Dunn said.

Cr Dunn thanked the Minister for Transport for receiving the petition.

“We’re pleased that all sides of Parliament are interested in our issues. Now it’s important that today’s gesture from the Victorian Government results in action,” she said.