Pressure to ease car dependence

A COALITION of councils is holding a public transport summit next month in a bid to apply further pressure on the State Government to improve services.
The Eastern Transport Coalition, which includes the City of Greater Dandenong, is hosting the summit on Friday 4 July at the Manningham City Council building on Doncaster Road, Doncaster.
It will run from 8.30am to 11am and the keynote speaker will be West Australian professor Peter Newman who is credited with coining the term ‘automobile dependence’.
The summit will also feature guest speakers professor Graham Currie, the Monash University chairman of public transport, and Peter Daly, chief engineer from the RACV.
ETC chairman and Knox councillor Mick Van De Vreede said that following the Eddington study it was clear that the State Government needed a transport plan for 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,” he said.
“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.
“Now is the right time to make your voice heard in the State Government’s future transport plans for Melbourne.”
Anyone who wants to attend the summit should contact Melissa Sparrow at Knox City Council on melissa.sparrow@knox.vic.gov.au or by calling 9298 8126 by Friday 27 June.