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Cr Alex Makin: Councilor for Montague Ward, City of Port Phillip

Launch of Communities for Public Transport

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by

alex
in ,

This evening I facilitated a second meeting in regard to public transport in Melbourne’s outer suburbs with the aim of establishing an ongoing community focused public transport advocacy group.

As such I am pleased to announce the launch of Communities for Public Transport. This newly formed organisation, consisting of local residents and businesses, will advocate for much needed public transport in Melbourne’s outer suburbs. Priorities will include:

  • Bringing forward the construction of new rail stations in Melbourne’s growing outer suburbs;
  • New rail lines to improve the reach of public transport services;
  • Service improvements to the train and bus network to provide a level of service that is comparable to the inner and middle suburbs of Melbourne;
  • Overall coordination and safety improvements.

As local residents, the people involved in Communities for Public Transport, have first hand experience of the public transport problems within Melbourne. It is hoped that Local and State politicians will work with the group to ensure that much needed improvements are delivered.

Communities for Public Transport marks a new era for public transport advocacy with local residents leading the calls for improvements. No longer will we have a situation where a centralised inner city focused organisation dictates the transport needs of the suburbs, instead we will have the local community, the people who are best placed to know their own needs, advocating and lobbying for public transport improvements.

Alex Makin with Cr. Steve Beardon of Casey at the launch of Communities for Public Transport

Councillor Steve Beardon from the City of Casey has been particularly supportive of the group and this example needs to be followed by politicians in all levels of government.

The State Government’s transport blueprint, Meeting Our Transport Challenges, is woefully inadequate for Melbourne’s southeast and local advocacy is needed to ensure that this is rectified.  It is time for the State Government to realise it is a mistake neglecting the southeastern suburbs and to bring forward crucial projects, such as Lyndhurst and Lakeside Stations.

Comments

  1. Garry Runge Avatar
    Garry Runge

    Alex, could you please inform me when and where the next meeting of the CCCPT will be held as I am very interested in attending. I use the Paken train service daily and am keen to see an improvement.
    Garry Runge

    Reply
  2. Alex Makin Avatar
    Alex Makin

    Hello Garry,

    Thank you for your comments and for your interest in CCCPT. The next meeting date has not yet been confirmed but I certainly will send you the details once they are organised.

    It is great to see local residents taking an interest in their local public transport issues. Ultimately it will be local communities who will be able to achieve results and public transport improvements for their local area.

    I’ll certainly let you know when the details of the next meeting are confirmed.

    Thanks,

    Alex

    Reply
  3. Jason Wood Avatar
    Jason Wood

    Hi Alex,
    I’d also be keen on hearing about updates. I live in Lynbrook and my wife is legally blind. The state of bus routes in the area is shocking. It takes a ridiculous time to get to Dandenong and there isn’t a really good option to take public transport to Fountain Gate.

    Reply
  4. Alex Makin Avatar
    Alex Makin

    Hi Jason,

    Thank you for your interest in Communities for Public Transport.  We are
    planning our next meeting in early December so I will send you details once
    it is confirmed.

    I agree that bus services need major improvement particularly in providing a
    viable alternative to driving.  Bus routes should be frequent, direct and
    coordinated with other buses and the train network

    Far too many of Melbourne’s bus routes are circuitous in nature causing
    confusion and lengthy journeys.  The State Government has announced a review
    of bus routes for the Casey area and it will be great to have your input into
    the routes that require improvements.

    Feel free to contact me on 0409 136 213 or email alex@alexmakin.com.au if you
    would like any further information on Communities for Public Transport.

    Thanks,

    Alex

    Reply
  5. Graham Allen Avatar
    Graham Allen

    Hi Alex . . I am a resident in Lynbrook and have lived here for 7 years. We were attracted to the area, in part, by the fact that the Lyndhurst station was shown in the Melways as ‘proposed’ It amazes us that with so many families moving into the area, coupled with the rising price of petrol, road congestion and now the push by Government to encourage better use of public transport, that the station has not been ‘fast tracked’, The local member(Tim Holding)is a cabinet member and should be doing more to assist his constituents, by getting this as a priority. Can the SE Transport Forum consider starting a petition to canvas support. Mr Holding may be unaware of our issue as afterall he doesn’t live in the electorate!

    Reply
  6. Jason Wood Avatar
    Jason Wood

    Hi Graham,

    To add a couple of things to your request: Tim Holding is well aware of the plight. He’s been to Lynbrook Residents Association meetings (2nd Tue at the primary school http://www.lynbrook.org.au). As for petitions, Inga Peulich MLC for our region has a petition sheet on her web site http://www.ingapeulich.org/. I also believe that petition is at the Flakey Jakes at the Lynbrook Village shops.

    Reply
  7. Alex Makin Avatar
    Alex Makin

    Hi Graham,

    Thank you for your comments, there is definitely a need to fastrack the
    construction of Lyndhurst Station.  Casey is one of Melbourne’s fastest
    growing regions and with the adding pressures of rising petrol prices (and
    mortgages) there is a need to provide an alternative to cars.

    The Government is able to build a second station in Ballarat in approximately
    two years and and yet residents in Lyndhurst are currently expected to wait
    at least another four years before the station is built!

    A petition has been circulated by Inga Peulich, the Member for South Eastern
    Metropolitan Region.  The petition can be downloaded from
    http://www.ingapeulich.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=75&Itemid=28

    Casey is also undergoing a review of bus services during 2008.  While the
    review is primarily focused on bus routes, it does provide a further
    opportunity to highlight the need for the station, since coupled with bus
    improvements to would make it easier to travel throughout Casey.

    I’m hoping we’ll have a meeting of Communities for Public Transport in early
    2008 so we can discuss this further.

    Thanks,

    Alex

    Reply

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