Better public transport ‘essential’

A LOCAL version of the Prime Minister’s 2020 Summit has called for improved public transport in Melbourne’s east and south-east.
The Eastern Transport Coalition (ETC) this week released a statement saying that a local 2020 Summit held by federal MPs from Chisholm, Holt, Hotham, Bruce and Isaacs was highlighted by the need for vastly improved public transport services.
The larger 2020 Summit will be held later this month in Canberra and is focussed on assessing the current and future needs of a new generation of Australians. ETC chairman and Knox City councillor Mick Van De Vreede said public transport was ‘high on the agenda’ at the local summit held at Monash University on Saturday 5 April.
“This confirmed what we found in a major survey last year. Seventy-one percent of people use cars to get to work and 61 percent would use public transport if the option was available. The survey also found that the Federal Government can help provide that option.
“Sixty-two percent of respondents said it was not acceptable that the Federal Government provided funding for major roads but not for public transport infrastructure,” he said.
Cr Van De Vreede said it was time for the ETC and other concerned parties to apply pressure on Federal MPs to lobby for such funds.
“The Federal Government provides billions of dollars for major road infrastructure but public transport is a viable and a necessary alternative. People know that public transport can achieve the same ends, taking private cars off the roads, helping reduce greenhouse gas emission and leaving road space for freight. Our local residents don’t want to see each level of government blame each other,” he said.
“Seventy-six percent surveyed believed the State and Federal Governments should share the cost for all necessary public transport infrastructure.”
Cr Van De Vreede said projects the ETC would like to see funded included increased capacity along the Dandenong line. “We hope the Federal Government can act on the ALP platform and modify AusLink to provide funding for major public transport infrastructure,” Cr Van De Vreede said.