When it comes to public transport the major parties have different policies but have failed to make any concrete commitments so far according to the Eastern Transport Coalition.

Cr Mick Van De Vreede said that over the past few months the ETC had been speaking to the major parties, advocating for federal funding of major public transport infrastructure.

“We have found that the ALP has a supportive platform, candidates will actually attend meetings and make supportive comments in the local press. Liberal Party candidates refuse to attend meetings and neither party has made any real commitments.

“We don’t need platitudes; we need action on public transport.

“Both parties need to listen to the needs of voters, in a recent survey of 1000 voters conducted by the Australian Research Group the key finding was that a majority of people believe that the Federal Government should consider funding major additions to urban public transport in the same manner it funds roads.

“In Sunday’s debate both Mr Howard and Mr Rudd raised issues about rising petrol prices, tightening family budgets and the environment. They need to now take action on these concerns by agreeing to fund public transport in urban areas.

“It is very frustrating that both Labor and Liberal have voted to support federal funding for public transport in parliamentary committees and they have actually funded it in the 1990’s.

“The ETC will continue its campaign in the hope that one of the major parties decides to make a real commitment to helping the 1,000,000 residents in the east cut the cost of transport and help the environment by once again federally funding public transport,” Cr Mick Van De Vreede concluded.

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In an historic step the Mayors of seven Council’s in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs have signed a joint letter to the Prime Minister John Howard and Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd asking them to contribute to the funding of major public transport infrastructure in urban areas.

The seven Councils, Greater Dandenong, Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash, Whitehorse and Yarra Ranges represent one million people. This area will see some of the closest contests seats in the up coming Federal election.

The Eastern Transport Coalition (ETC) have been campaigning for better public transport over the last two years and more recently have turned their attention to the Federal election, strongly believing that the Federal Government must assist the states in developing better transport systems by helping to funding public transport infrastructure.

ETC Chairperson, Cr Mick Van De Vreede, said that over the past few months we have seen both political parties step in and fund or offer to fund areas that have not traditionally been their responsibility, now public transport should be looked at.

“Members of both parties have already indicated that they agree with the need, primarily for environmental reasons, to fund urban public transport. Now we want their leaders to agree as well.

“Fact is the voters agree, in a recent survey of 1000 voters conducted by the Australian Research Group the key finding was that a majority of people believe that the Federal Government should consider funding major additions to urban public transport in the same manner it funds roads.

“There is also precedent, the former Federal Labor Better Cities program cooperated with the Victorian Coalition Government to fund extensions to light rail and upgrades to heavy rail.

“The current blinkered policy makes no sense, why pour billions of dollars into urban road capacity projects without considering other transport options? Options such as public transport also deal with congestion, help families and the environment.

“Our survey also found that 83 per cent of respondents said that the issue of public transport infrastructure would be of importance when deciding who they would vote for in the next Federal election so both Mr Howard and Mr Rudd should listen,” 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

Chairperson of the ETC, Cr Van De Vreede has welcomed the announcement of Federal Government funding for grade separation at Springvale Road as a sign that there is no barrier to Federal Government funding for major public transport projects.

The ETC represents seven Councils covering one million people in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs and is campaigning this year for Federal Government funding for public transport.

Cr Van De Vreede said the “grade separation will help reduce traffic congestion at one of Melbourne’s busiest intersections and likewise a rail to Rowville, a rail to Doncaster and increasing the capacity of the Belgrave/Lilydale lines would reduce congestion on many more roads.

“If the Federal Government is happy to provide funding to reduce congestion on roads which are traditionally the responsibility of the State Government why shouldn’t they provide funding for high capacity public transport projects which will do the same?” It’s a ‘no brainer’.

“Such Public Transport projects will also serve to protect our families from the impacts of rising oil prices by giving them transport choices.”

The community in the eastern suburbs wants the Federal Government to help with funding. In a major survey of 1000 voters in the east 62% of respondents said it was not acceptable that the ederal Government provided funding for major roads but not for public transport infrastructure.

“This supports the Federal parliamentary Committee on Environment and Heritage decision that the provision of Australian Government transport infrastructure funds ‘include provision of funding specifically for sustainable public transport infrastructure for suburbs and developments on the outer fringes of our cities.’

“Phil Baressi was a member of the Committee for part of this inquiry so he understands the importance of public transport in improving the sustainability of our cities.

“I look forward to more decisions by the Federal Government to provide funding in areas where they have not traditionally done so, first it was a hospital, now its grade separations, hopefully tomorrow its public transport,” Cr 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