The Eastern Transport Coalition will be taking its campaign for the Federal Government funding for key eastern suburbs public transport projects to Canberra in August.

ETC Chairperson, Cr Mick Van De Vreede said that the ETC would travel to Canberra to seek support from the Government and ALP to reduce road congestion in the outer eastern suburbs.

“We are approaching the Transport and Environment Ministers and Shadow Ministers to meet with us and discuss how the Federal Government can help the environment and reduce road congestion by funding key public transport projects.

“Both Labor and Liberal members of the Federal Governments Standing Committee on Environment and Heritage have recommended that the Australian Government fund public transport infrastructure for suburbs and developments on the outer fringes of our cities.

“We have projects in the outer east that would benefit from such funding, which are;

• the need to upgrade the Belgrave and Lilydale lines
• improve and create transport interchanges
• rail to Rowville
• rail to Doncaster
• improvements to facilitate road based public transport
• funding for upgrade of Dandenong line

“We hope that the trip helps to inform federal politicians about these much needed projects and I look forward to meeting Ministers and Shadow Ministers and hearing their views about funding for public transport infrastructure in the outer east of Melbourne,” Cr Mick Van De Vreede concluded.

For more information please contact;

ETC Chairperson Cr Mick Van De Vreede                     0438 029 932
CPR Communications, Robert Larocca                        0409 198 350

The Eastern Transport Coalition has made a submission to the East-West needs Review calling on the State Government to fix Melbourne’s capacity and congestion issues by expanding the public transport network.

Chairperson, Cr Mick Van De Vreede said that by expanding the rail network cars would be removed from the roads and greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced.

“The State Government are rightly concerned about the capacity of our roads to handle freight into the future, however the answer is not more roads, the answer is more public transport.

“The million residents of the outer east that our seven member councils represent do not have the access to public transport that other Melbournian’s do and as a result they often have no option other than private vehicles.

“The large improvement in buses that is planned will make a difference but a bus doubles the key commute time to the CBD. Train is the only answer.

“Our submission points out that the big weakness in the current network is fivefold;

• No fixed rail to Rowville
• No fixed rail to Doncaster
• No plans for third rail on Belgrave/Lilydale line
• Lack of dedicated lanes for Smart Buses.
• Lack of up to date Public transport interchanges

“If implemented with improved facilities for commuters, these five projects would free up a lot of road space on the Eastern and Monash Freeways, space which could be utilised by freight.

“As a first step Rod Eddington should recommend the development of full business cases for each. Proper business cases would allow the State to budget funding and even seek funding from the Federal Government.

“Even the State Government’s own Sustainability Commissioner, Mr Rod Mc Phail, has pointed to the lack of extensions to hard rail as a shortcoming for Melbourne.

“I urge Sir Rod and the State Government to get serious about improving Melbourne’s liveability, now and into the future by extending rail,” Cr Mick Van De Vreede concluded.

For more information please contact;

ETC Chairperson Cr Mick Van De Vreede 0438 029 932
CPR Communications, Robert Larocca    0409 198 350