TRANSPORT FORUM – Will transport promises make the grade?

The Melbourne Transport Forum (which represents 23 Melbourne metro Councils) and Leader Newspapers have jointly organised a series of town hall style forums to discuss transport issues in various Metro Melbourne municipalities. The forums, to be facilitated by the Mayor, are an opportunity for the public to meet 3 local candidates, standing in the upcoming (November) state election, face-to-face and ask questions about transport issues. The local election candidates, from the major political parties, will address the forum and take questions from the public.  Details for the Glen Eira forum are as follows

Glen Eira Forum Details

 SPEAKERS

David Southwick, MLA for Caulfield (Liberal)
Nick Staikos, ALP Candidate for Bentleigh (Legislative Assembly)
Sean Mulcahy, Greens candidate for Bentleigh (Legislative Assembly)

 WHEN                       September 10, 2014 at 7pm – 8:15pm

WHERE                     Glen Eira Town Hall

RSVP                                  RSVP to the Glen Eira Forum

RAISE AN ISSUE     Raise a question to be discussed at the forum

GERA believes that the long standing issue of providing adequate public transport to a dramatically increasing population is yet to be addressed or firmly committed to.

For the past 15 – 20 years,

• improved public transport election promises have abounded (and are doing so again as the November state election approaches) and
• planning policies have focussed increased housing supply around public transport service points
• while much transport planning has occurred (and continues to occur – Pakenham-Cranebourne Rail Corridor Project), few actual improvements to the public transport system have occurred.

The many and varied issues arising from housing planning (predicated on the provision of adequate public transport) outstripping the provision of that public transport are well documented and impact us all. Glen Eira, being a middle ring municipality crossed by the rail (3), tram (4)* and various bus networks, is experiencing all of these issues.

Although biographical information on the public transport background of the speakers is scant (Southwick, Staikos and Mulcahy) the speakers may well become our State representatives in November. Therefore, GERA encourages residents to raise issues to be discussed at the forum and to attend the forum to hear what’s being offered and voice their concerns.

****************

* Glen Eira hard rail public transport services

 Train Lines

• Frankston Line – served by: Caulfield Railway Station, Glenhuntly Railway Station, Ormond Railway Station, McKinnon Railway Station, Bentleigh Railway Station and then by Patterson Railway Station.
• Pakenham/Cranbourne Lines – served by: Caulfield Railway Station, Carnegie Railway Station and then by Murrumbeena Railway Station.
• Sandringham Line – served by: Elsternwick Railway Station.

Tram routes

• Route 3 – East Malvern to Melbourne University which travels along Waverley Rd, Balaclava Rd, Carlisle St before proceeding along St Kilda Rd into the Central Business District
• Route 16 – Kew to St Kilda and Melbourne University which travels along Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn Rd and Balaclava Rd, Carlisle St, The Esplanade, Fitzroy St before proceeding along St Kilda Rd into the Central Business District
• Route 64 – East Brighton to Melbourne University which runs along Hawthorn Rd and Dandenong Rd, before proceeding along St Kilda Rd into the Central Business District
• Route 67 – Carnegie to Melbourne University which runs along Glen Huntly Rd and Brighton Rd, before proceeding along St Kilda Rd into the Central Business District

 Source: Wikipedia