Public Transport Policies and Priorities
Ycat Questions and Candidates Responses – Victorian State Election 2010
Richmond Electorate
Ycat has conducted a survey of the major political party’s to determine the policy and the personal commitment of candidates in the Richmond District, Victorian State Election 2010 to Public Transport Options and the proposed Hoddle Street road development.
Ycat undertook to publish candidate’s responses verbatim on the Ycat Website and to circulate these responses via newsletter.
Ycat has received responses from the Socialist Party, Labor Party and Greens Party and candidate’s responses are posted below.
Richard Wynne
Richard Wynne is the current MLA for Richmond.
1. Will you or your party introduce a single Public Transport Authority that can control train, tram and bus timetables, service delivery and investment?
The Transport Integration Act, which came into effect on 1 July 2010, establishes a clear role for the Director of Public Transport who is an accountable public official, charged with providing, operating and maintaining the public transport system for all Victorians.
The State Government recognises the importance of ensuring that the Director of Public Transport is accountable for the provision of safe, efficient and coordinated public transport.
2. What will you or your party do to attain a rapid transit rail link between the city and Doncaster?
The State Government delivered a rapid transit link between the city and Doncaster on 4 October 2010. The $360 million Doncaster Area Rapid Transit established four rapid bus links from Doncaster and other surrounding suburbs to the city, running every seven to 10 minutes during peak periods, every 15 minutes at other times during the day and every 30 minutes after 9pm and on weekends. We have delivered a total of 3030 Doncaster Area Rapid Transit services each week. These new services benefit inner suburbs too, with buses servicing Hoddle and Victoria Streets approximately every minute during peak times.
3. What will you or your party do to achieve a review of the 2008 Transport and Freight Transport Plan?
The State Government’s $38 billion Victorian Transport Plan will be updated regularly so it remains practical, relevant and achievable.
4. What will you or your party do to make transport planning more transparent, community based and consultative?
The State Government values the input of the community into transport planning that shapes the future of Melbourne and Victoria.
The development of the $38 billion Victorian Transport Plan was based on significant community input, through workshops held across the State and a significant public consultation process. The views of the community played a considerable role in shaping the plan that we have today.
The Major Transport Projects Facilitation Act 2009 also provides a clear framework for community input into transport projects which are being developed and constructed across the State to ensure fair and equitable representation for the community in the process.
These principles are the basis for transport planning across the State and the State Government will continue to ensure that the community has a voice in transport planning.
5. What will you or your party do to reverse the decision to designate Hoddle Street as a Priority Freight Route?
Hoddle Street is critical to north-south traffic movements in inner Melbourne and to the flow of Eastern Freeway traffic to and from the CBD. The State Government’s $5 million Hoddle Street study is investigating the best options to improve all forms of transport on Hoddle Street; trams, buses, private and freight vehicles, walking and cycling.
6. Will you or your party introduce 24 hour dedicated bus/taxi lanes – with traffic light priority for buses and trams along the full length of Hoddle Street & Punt Road to just North of the river.
The State Government delivered a rapid transit link between the city and Doncaster on 4 October 2010. The $360 million Doncaster Area Rapid Transit established four rapid bus links from Doncaster and other surrounding suburbs to the city, running every seven to 10 minutes during peak periods, every 15 minutes at other times during the day and every 30 minutes after 9pm and on weekends. We have delivered a total of 3030 Doncaster Area Rapid Transit services each week. These new services benefit inner suburbs too, with buses servicing Hoddle and Victoria Streets approximately every minute during peak times.
7. What measures will you or your party support to reduce private cars on Hoddle Street?
The State Government’s $38 billion Victorian Transport Plan outlines a range of initiatives for a sustainable future, including increasing frequency, reliability and safety of public transport with projects such as the Doncaster Area Rapid Transit; a $5 million Electric Vehicle Trial for Victoria; Melbourne Bike Share – a $5 million public bicycle hire scheme for Melbourne. In addition we are investing $115 million into cycling infrastructure right across the State, encouraging more people to leave their cars at home and use sustainable forms of transport.
8. What measures will you or your party support to reduce air pollution in the City of Yarra
Labor is committed to ensuring that Victoria has some of the strictest air emissions standards in the world.
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) monitors air quality hourly at its monitoring stations, including in Richmond, and Victoria’s actions have seen a dramatic improvement in air quality in Melbourne.
When monitoring begun in 1973 air quality was worsening. Since the 1980s however it has been steadily improving largely due to compliance with EPA standards and the introduction of emission controls on cars. Since early 2000 the policies of successive Labor Governments have ensured major pollutants like carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) have continued to decrease.
However there is more work to be done and Victoria is now leading a national working group reviewing the national environment protection measures for ambient air quality – this work includes looking at the national air quality standards to ensure that the impact of air pollution on human health is minimised.
The Victorian Labor Government’s Climate Change White Paper “Taking Action for Victoria’s Future” sets out the Government’s commitment to the task of tackling climate change.
We have set Victoria a target to reduce emissions by at least 20 per cent by 2020 compared to 2000 levels (equivalent to 40 per cent per capita) and commit to reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of Victorian brown coal-fired generators by bringing forward the closure of Hazelwood Power Station.
We have doubled the registration discount for hybrid vehicles to $100 and expanded the discount to electric vehicles. We are also establishing a voluntary program for road users to offset their vehicle emissions as part of the registration process.
Our $148.6 million Climate Communities program is already supporting local communities to take local action to tackle climate change. Already we have supported projects as diverse as local bike users groups, community gardens and local solar projects.
By taking a leading role in tackling climate change, the State Government is determined to ensure that the legacy our generation leaves to future generations of Victorians is a strong economy, sustainable communities and a better, cleaner world.
9. How will you or your party stop all proposed major road projects and reinvest the funds in public transport? For clarification, please indicate which road projects you would support and which you will oppose.
The State Government’s $38 billion Victorian Transport Plan will transform our transport network, starting with more trains, trams and buses and projects to unclog our road network.
I support projects that improve our public transport and make our more sustainable transport options, such as cycling and walking, more accessible.
I do not support an east-west tunnel. The tunnel under the cemetery and through Royal Park is not and will not be part of the Government’s election policy. The State Government has made it clear that the Melbourne Metro Rail tunnel is a higher priority, along with projects we’re already delivering, including the $4.3 billion Regional Rail Link, 38 new trains and 50 new low floor trams.
