Public Transport.. Is It Moving You? was the theme of the first public transport meeting held in Croydon, which like most of the outer east has suffered from continued public transport neglect.

Organised by the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) and the Croydon Conservation Society (CCS), the meeting attracted well over 100 attendees. People were literally standing out the door and clearly demonstrating the demand for public transport improvements.

Speakers included:

• Carlo Carli, Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure (State Government)
• John Stanley, Executive Director, Bus Association of Victoria
• Susan, Davies Federal candidate for La Trobe (ALP)
• Bill Pemberton and Richard Di Natale, Federal candidate for Deakin (Greens) and Senate Candidate (Greens)
• Alex Makin, PTUA Outer East Branch Convener
• Neil Rose and Phil Turner, Mayor of Maroondah and Group Manager – Major Projects
• Frank Mercuri, Director – Invicta Bus Company
• Monika Keane, Councillor – Shire of Yarra Ranges
• Adam Gill, Councillor – City of Knox

Attendees were able to hear about the actions taken by respective speakers in regard to public transport advocacy and improvement. Of great disappointment, however, was the attitude taken by Neil Rose (Mayor of Maroondah) who decided to spend his allocated time discussing freight issues instead.

While also an important issue, freight was completely outside the scope of a public transport orientated meeting, demonstrating on Neil’s part a complete lack of regard for the issues facing his own municipality.

Both Knox and the Yarra Ranges provide active advocacy to improve public transport in their respective municipalities, yet Maroondah and its mayor seemed content on paying these issues no heed.

Excluding the Australian Greens responses from the State and Federal levels acknowledged the lack of services but promised very little to address the issue..

Residents have demonstrated a clear expectation that they demand better from all levels of government. One can only hope that improvements are delivered beginning with the 2005 to 2006 budget.