Poor view of transport

By Tania Martin
A REPORT into Victoria’s future transport needs has been slammed for ignoring the outer-east.
The report was commissioned by the State Government to address the future transport needs of metropolitan Melbourne.
However, the Eastern Transport Coalition (ETC) said the report failed to provide a long-term vision for public transport in the outer eastern suburbs.
ETC chairman and Knox City councillor Mick Van de Vreede said although the report was correct in that a massive investment was needed in public transport, it had still failed the outer-east.
“We are very disappointed that there is no long term vision for the outer east,” he said.
Cr Van de Vreede said the ETC will now campaign for the State Government to include plans for projects such as rail improvements in its response.
“We need a long term vision for rapid transit in the outer east,” he said.
Cr Van de Vreede said the report seems to have ‘given up’ on the east, suggesting that as residents already prefer to use cars rather than existing rail services there was no point in expanding rail.
Shire of Yarra Ranges councillor Samantha Dunn also said the report ignored much needed improvements to rail transport.
“Only last year we saw an increase in rail patronage when zone three was abolished but rail commuters can only put up with packed trains and late and cancelled trains for so long,” she said.
“What we need is line duplications at Belgrave and Lilydale and more extensive bus services between our suburbs and towns.”
Cr Van de Vreede said the report had also ignored the fact that tens of thousands of families in the outer east currently have no option but a car and are therefore exposed to rapid increases in fuel prices.
“We strongly feel that families in the outer east should have the same transport options as other parts of Melbourne,” he said.
However, Monbulk MP James Merlino said that the report focussed on transport between Melbourne’s east and west and that there would be many other projects that would be considered for the outer-east.
Mr Merlino said the report didn’t outline all the needs for the future of Melbourne’s transport.
He said there were still a range of issues that needed to be addressed by the Government especially for the outer east.
“We need to look at further improving bus services in the coming years,” Mr Merlino said.
Mr Merlino has now urged hills people to put in a submission on the report outlining their concerns and hopes for improved services in the outer-east.
Cr Dunn said with in no improvements in the outer-east, residents would continue to suffer from high fuel prices as a result of their reliance on motor vehicles due to limited public transport options.
She said the Shire of Yarra Ranges would now continue to lobby the State Government to improve public transport.