Posted by Carlo Carli in
Climate Change, Jobs & Economy, Papers & Speeches, Transport
Wednesday, July 16. 2008
Since the release of the East West Needs Assessment Study Report there has been a vigorous debate over its recommendations.
There is a very strong community view that:
- Action is needed to meet demand for sustainable transport services
- Action is needed to address social disadvantage
- Action is needed to ensure that the transport sector makes a contribution to meeting ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction targets
Our community has told us via public meetings, conversations in the shops, on the street corners, via phone, letter and email and on the internet that their priority is for a better sustainable transport network. They want better public transport networks that provide real access and choice. They want better walking and cycling infrastructure to cater for people who walk and cycle to work, to shop and to socialise.
Our community has told us that they see the construction of an east-west road tunnel as inconsistent with the above goals. As Kelvin Thomson MP told the Commonwealth Parliament,
The greatest challenge facing the 21st century is the challenge of climate change. We cannot tackle climate change by building more roads. By all means let us build more transport infrastructure—let’s be a nation of builders—but let it be public transport infrastructure, let it be for trains, trams and buses. We cannot build our way out of congestion. We have been trying it for years and it does not work.
Our community does not believe that building a road tunnel is consistent with an approach to reduce transport emissions, manage congestion or encourage transport choice.
Our community is asking for a new approach - a 21st century approach to transport policy. One which focuses on addressing social disadvantage, on providing transport choice and giving people access to sustainable transport options.
Our community is looking upon government to make the right political choices for the 21st century.
We call upon the state government to advance a transport action plan for metropolitan Melbourne in response to the Eddington Report which:
- Acts to boost much needed rail capacity in inner Melbourne via the construction of a rail tunnel as outlined in the Eddington Report
- Maps out a vision for the future development of Melbourne’s sustainable transport network
- Addresses transport disadvantage by providing mobility and choice – especially in outer Melbourne
- Reaffirms the 20/2020 target – 20 percent of all journeys by public transport in metropolitan Melbourne by 2020
- Increases the proportion of freight carried on rail, including a strategy for metropolitan rail shuttle services
- Accelerates smart bus improvements and upgrades the minimum bus service standards, and,
- Addresses the need for the transport sector to make a major contribution to meeting Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction target.
We also call on the state government to rule out proceeding with a cross city road tunnel and to invest first in public transport, other sustainable transport modes and transport demand management.
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