The Eastern Transport Coalition has welcomed the fact that the Federal Government is now contributing to the funding of urban public transport but called on both Federal and State Government to consider a plan for the future that includes improved rail in the Melbourne’s east.

ETC Chairperson Cr Samantha Dunn said that the ETC had campaigned for Federal funding for urban public transport and was very pleased that it was now happening.

“Two years ago we commissioned a survey of 1000 voters in the outer east and found that 62% of respondents said it was not acceptable that the Federal Government provided funding for major roads but not for public transport infrastructure.

“We welcome the application of funding for the expansion of rail in the western suburbs and
the funds to plan the first stage of the Metro.

“Whilst this work goes on we would like serious consideration given to the extension of rail to Rowville, Doncaster as well as timelines established to plan for the increase of capacity on the Ringwood/Belgrave/Lilydale line. “Planning for the Metro must also include the segment of the project that would connect Domain with Caulfield as it will help provide the increase in capacity needed on the Dandenong line into the future.

“It is particularly disappointing that neither the Federal nor State Governments have ever given a reason why we can’t extend rail to Rowville via Monash University. The ETC made submissions to the Eddington Review, the Victorian Transport Plan and Infrastructure Australia and despite repeated commitments in previous years to conduct a proper feasibility study nothing has ever happened.

“The ETC will now consider what it can do to have rail to Rowville transparently assessed,” Cr Dunn concluded.

For media inquiries please contact;
ETC Chairperson Cr Samantha Dunn 0407 364 509
CPR Communications, Robert Larocca 0409 198 350

ETC Chairperson, Councillor Samantha Dunn has welcomed and endorsed a call by the Member of Legislative Council Brian Tee for bike parking facilities at the Doncaster Park and Ride.

Cr Dunn said that improved bike parking facilities was a great idea for the Doncaster Park and Ride and should also be considered at a number of train stations and interchanges across the eastern suburbs.

“We have seen firsthand the ramifications of the increased demand for public transport, overflowing car parks so its a great idea to give commuters the option of safely parking their bikes before they get on the train, tram or bus.

“If the state government are successful in delivering train like services with the Doncaster Area Rapid Transit service they will need more space for commuters to park.

“I hope the state government acts on Mr Tee’s request in Parliament yesterday and I encourage them to look further afield for other opportunities.

“The member councils in the ETC, Greater Dandenong, Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash, Whitehorse and Yarra Ranges will conduct an audit based on our on the ground knowledge and request more secure bike parking facilities” Cr Dunn concluded.

The Eastern Transport Coalition has welcomed the investment in buses made in the State Budget.

ETC Chairperson Cr Samantha Dunn has welcomed the commitment to implementing the Doncaster Area Rapid Transport (DART) project – as long as it delivers train like services.

“By providing $112.1 million the State Government has committed one third of the cost of the DART project and whilst we have always wanted a train line to Doncaster we welcome the investment, as long as commuters get train like service.

“Train like service means that the DART buses wouldn’t be stuck in traffic on Hoddle Street, unnecessarily stopped by traffic lights or passengers made to wait on street corners.

“We also welcome the commitment to extend the existing Yellow SmartBus 901 service from Ringwood to the Melbourne Airport as it will provide residents of the eastern suburbs an affordable way to get to the airport.

“The committal of funding for the long awaited and often promised Springvale Road grade separation will ultimately allow for improved train services and on road public transport.

“The ETC welcomes any increase in funding for public transport in the east, but believes that the improvements and extensions in rail are critical if we are to meet the public transport needs of the region over the next 25 years, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and our dependence on cars.

“The ETC asked Infrastructure Australia to fund the extension of rail through Monash University to Rowville, rail to Doncaster and an increase in capacity of the Ringwood/Belgrave/Lilydale line.

“It’s also critical that both stages of the Metro be funded to allow for an increase in capacity on the Dandenong line.

“It would be great if the Federal Government funded any of these projects as that would provide the million plus residents of the outer east the generational step up in the provision of public transport that they deserve,” Cr Dunn concluded.

For media inquiries please contact;
ETC Chairperson Cr Samantha Dunn 0407 364 509
CPR Communications, Robert Larocca 0409 198 350

At its February meeting the Eastern Transport Coalition elected Yarra Ranges Councillor, Samantha Dunn as its new Chairperson.

Cr Dunn takes over from Cr Van De Vreede who had served in the role for the past four years. Cr Dunn has represented the Lyster Ward in the Shire of Yarra Ranges since 2005.

Cr Dunn said that she was honoured to be elected as Chairperson and thanked Cr Van De Vreede for his work.

“Cr Van De Vreede has been a champion for better public transport in the outer east and was instrumental in directing the ETC’s campaigning on issues such as the removal of zone 3, the successful campaign for the Federal Government to fund urban public transport infrastructure and the ongoing campaign for rail extensions and capacity upgrades.

“Under my leadership the Eastern Transport Coalition will continue to advocate for accessible and integrated sustainable transport in the eastern region of Melbourne to improve liveability and reduce car dependency.

“We have come a long way in the last 4 years but we need to do more because there are still serious deficiencies in the provision of public transport to outer east,” Cr Dunn concluded.

ETC COUNCILLORS 2009

Cr Samantha Dunn (Chairperson) Shire of Yarra Ranges
Cr Alex Makin Maroondah City Council
Cr Bill Pemberton City of Whitehorse
Cr Mick Van De Vreede Knox City Council
Cr Greg Male Monash City Council
Cr Gracel Lavella Manningham City Council
Cr Roz Blades City of Greater Dandenong

For media inquiries please contact;
ETC Chairperson Cr Samantha Dunn 0407 364 509
CPR Communications, Robert Larocca 0409 198 350

ETC Chairperson, Cr Mick Van De Vreede has said that whilst the eastern region missed out
on any boost for public transport in the $42B stimulus package the ETC remained confident
of funding from the Building Australia Fund.

“The ETC made a submission to the Building Australia Fund last year and we are hopeful that when the successful projects are announced funding will be provided for rail in the east.

“The Federal and State Government are currently looking for projects they can fund to provide a stimulus to the local economy and rail is the perfect answer.

“Improved rail services will do more than just provide jobs; it would provide an ongoing economic stimulus from the reduction in congestion, improve community connectedness and help the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“The ETC requested funding for four projects from Infrastructure Australia (IA);

• Rail to Rowville from Huntingdale Station via Monash University
• Rail to Doncaster
• Capacity upgrades on the Cranbourne/Pakenham lines
• Expansion of the capacity of the Belgrave/Lilydale line

“Even though the State Government did not include all these projects in its Victorian Transport Plan they can still be funded by IA,” Cr Van De Vreede concluded.

ETC Chairperson Cr Mick Van De Vreede said that the outer east has failed to receive the
generational step up it needs to provide transport choice for its residents and free it of congestion.

ETC Chairperson Cr Van De Vreede said that the ETC had sought commitments for 4 key projects
and the Victorian Transport Plan had partially delivered on two of them.

“The contrast with the west of Melbourne is damming, they rightfully receive new train lines but in the
outer east we are given long off promises and toll roads.

“By failing to commit to new rail services in the outer east in its transport plan the state government is
consigning hundreds of thousands of families to a higher cost of living and hours wasted sitting in
congested freeways and tollways.

“We are deeply disappointed by the total failure to even consider rail to Rowville. I fail to understand
why a project that links Monash University, the Monash Innovation Precinct and the Rowville-
Scoresby employment precinct with the CBD and takes up to 2350 cars of the road every hour was
not even assessed.

“Rail to Rowville first appeared on government plans in 1969 and the current Government even
promised to conduct a feasibility study early in its term.

“We are also disappointed that the commitment to increase rail capacity by putting a third track on
the Dandenong line has been delayed – except for 2.7km – until an unspecified time.

“The DART service must be welcomed and I look forward to the dedicated lanes right to the CBD
providing commuters an efficient transit service. When the ETC surveyed commuters at the
Doncaster Park and Ride they overwhelmingly wanted a train service so the DART service really will
need to provide train like service to meet their needs.

“The ETC is also pleased that the government will ‘consider’ increased capacity on the Belgrave –
Lilydale line into the future, but I want to know why we can’t do the same for Rowville,” Cr Van De
Vreede concluded.

For media inquiries please contact;
ETC Chairperson Cr Mick Van De Vreede 0438 029 932
CPR Communications, Robert Larocca 0409 198 350

The Government is developing a comprehensive transport plan for Victoria to be released by the end of this year. The plan will respond to proposals for Melbourne’s east-west corridor in Sir Rod Eddington’s report Investing in Transport and other transport priorities across the state.

The ETC submitted a response to the State Government on Sir Rod Eddington’s report, that contained a number of “big ticket” infrastructure projects such as the proposed east-west road tunnel and rail tunnel from Footscray to Caulfield. The ETC responded with a request that rail to Rowville and Doncaster also be considered.

At a recent Community Cabinet in the eastern suburbs, the Victorian Premier, John Brumby, requested the ETC provide feedback on short-term public transport projects, including walking and cycling projects that could be included in the “Metropolitan Transport Plan”.

The purpose of this submission is to provide the Government with a list of projects which
are:

• regional in their need or effect;
• able to be completed in the immediate to short term future;
• low to medium cost;
• easily implemented; and
• provide benefits to a wide-ranging cross section of the regional community.

The need for such actions is demonstrated by the recent surge in public transport patronage. This serves to exacerbate the inadequacies of the system in the outer eastern suburbs, as residents continue to travel by car.

The public transport patronage figure for Metropolitan Melbourne (Statistical Division) is 10.2%. With the exception of Monash and Whitehorse, the ETC are generally well below the average.

There is also a need to promote and assist “active” forms of transport being walking and cycling to promote healthier lifestyles and less reliance on cars.

• For a copy of this report please email ben@bensmith.com.au

The ETC has reviewed the recommendations from the EWLNA and makes comment on them below. It is important to note that we have concentrated on the recommendations that directly relate to our region.

We have then made a range of suggestions about how public transport needs to be improved in our area. We hope that the suggestions about how public transport needs to be improved in our area will be considered by Government separately as they do not relate to the limited study area of the EWLNA.

The main recommendations of the ETC are;

1. Support is given for the rail tunnel as recommended by the EWLNA.
2. The State Government must produce a comprehensive and long term plan for a significant expansion in the cities public transport infrastructure.
3. Feasibility studies and business cases for the following projects need to be undertaken immediately;
   • Rail to Rowville,
   • Rail to Doncaster,
   • Expansion of capacity of Belgrave/Lilydale lines.
4. The triplification of track from Caulfield to Dandenong must be undertaken as committed.
5. Improvements to passenger comfort thought upgrades or the creation of model interchanges at activity centres and transit cities must be undertaken.
6. A long term fund for fixing gaps in the tram and bus network be created.

• Read ETC response submission to the East-West Transport Options Review (PDF)

The Eastern Transport Coalition’s Public Transport Summit was held on Friday 4 July.

The summit successfully brought together local residents, leaders and transport advocates to discuss improving public transport in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

Presentations delivered during the summit are now available:

• Professor Peter Newman -Future Cities: what can Eastern Melbourne do?
• Professor Graham Currie – A metropolitan view on public transport futures
• Claude Cullino, City of Manningham – Case for Doncaster Rail
• Ian Bell, City of Knox – Rail to Rowville pre-feasibility
• Cr. Alex Makin, City of Maroondah – Ringwood as a regional centre
• Cr. Samantha Dunn, Shire of Yarra Range – Duplication of the Belgrave/Lilydale lines

The Eastern Transport Coalition is holding a major public transport summit on the 4th of July to discuss what changes we need to accommodate for the increase in public transport patronage in our area, now and in the future.

The summit will feature keynote speaker Professor Peter Newman, Professor of Sustainability, Curtin University. Professor Newman is a renowned West Australian academic and planner who is credited with coining the term ‘automobile dependence’ — an expression describing the creation of cities reliant on cars.

The Summit will also hear from Professor Graham Currie, Monash University Chair of Public Transport and Peter Daly, Chief Engineer from the RACV.

ETC Chairperson Cr Mick Van De Vreede said that following the Eddington study it was clear that the State Government needed a transport plan for the rest of Melbourne and in particular the eastern suburbs.

“We intend to use the summit to put together the basic requirements of a transport plan for the eastern suburbs. We call on anyone who has an interest in improving public transport to attend the meeting or send us their ideas.

“It is clear that we need better public transport in Melbourne’s east — and we need it now! It’s the smart answer to help local families cope with the rapidly escalating petrol prices and climate change.

“If you can’t make it to the summit you can send us your ideas on info@etc.org.au.

“Now is the right time to make your voice heard in the State Government’s future transport plans for Melbourne,” Cr Van De Vreede concluded.

Details

Friday 4 July, 8:30am to 11am

Manningham City Council, Doncaster Road, Doncaster

For media inquiries please contact;
ETC Chairperson Cr Mick Van De Vreede        0438 029 932
CPR Communications, Robert Larocca            0409 198 350