Media Releases

The Chairperson of the ETC, Cr Mick Van De Vreede today called on the Victorian Government to follow the lead of the Queensland Government and put in place a program to help families deal with the cost of peak oil. “The Queensland Government conducted a report into the states vulnerability to rising oil prices. The [...]

In submissions to the State and Federal Government’s the ETC has sought co-operation to tackle one of the most significant contributors to rising greenhouse gases and rising petrol prices – private transport. Cr Mick Van De Vreede, ETC Chairperson said that the seven councils wanted to see the funding criteria for AusLink changed to allow [...]

The Metropolitan Transport Forum (MTF) and Eastern Transport Coalition (ETC), jointly representing 26 Melbourne Councils, have asked the Rudd Federal Government, to contribute to funding major urban public transport infrastructure projects. Both organisations also called on the Victorian Government to seek changes to Auslink to allow funding of public transport. Cr Jackie Fristacky, MTF Deputy [...]

Acting Chairperson of the ETC, Cr Alex Makin has called on the major parties to commit to federal funding of public transport given the clear community desire to see action in reducing the impacts of climate change. “The new Federal Government has been elected on a platform of providing ‘appropriate financial assistance to State governments [...]

Acting Chairperson of the ETC, Cr Alex Makin has said the ETC has been underwhelmed by the responses from the major political parties to the need for improved public transport in the east. “Voters in these key electorates also think that the Federal Government should fund public transport infrastructure in the same way they do [...]

Chairperson of the Eastern Transport Coalition, Cr Mick Van De Vreede has said today that the ETC will talk to voters at a number of railways stations and bus stops tomorrow to argue the case for Federal Government funding of major public transport infrastructure. “The following representatives of the ETC will be at four railway [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

In a submission to the State Government ETC Chairperson Cr Mick Van De Vreede has said that for Melbourne 2030 to deliver more needs to be invested in major public transport in Melbourne’s east. Cr Van De Vreede said the central idea in Melbourne 2030 – to increase housing around transport hubs – was a [...]