Agenda for Sustainability and Wellbeing

Last year the Western Sydney Regional Organisations of Councils (WSROC) released the Agenda for Sustainability and Wellbeing. This is a terrific resource for policy and research on transport and land-use. See it here: http://www.wsroc.com.au/page.aspx?vid=5

New Release Areas for the North West and South West

New release Precincts
Planning Minister Kristina Keneally has announced consultation will begin with local councils regarding the release of five new Precincts in the Growth Centres.
The next five precincts to be released across the North West and South West Growth Centres will be Austral (6,700 lots) and North Leppington (9,000 lots) in the South West and Box Hill (7,700 lots), Box Hill Industrial (employment land) and Schofields (3,600 lots) in the North West.
You can subscribe to the Growth Centres planning email news here:
http://www.growthcentres.nsw.gov.au/

Fixing The Network - report from RBTU

The Rail Bus and Tram Union has released a report titled "Fixing The Network". It advocates for 3 "shovel ready" projects:
1) North West Rail Link - Epping to Rouse Hill
2) Epping to Parramatta link via Carlingford
3) South West Rail Link - Glenfield to Leppington
They also advocate "Rail Strengthening" which is about upgrading signals and other infrastructure.
You can read the report here: http://www.rtbu-nsw.asn.au/multiattachments/4411/DocumentName/Fixing_the_Network_Report.pdf

WSPTU Umbrella Meets For The First Time

People representing public transport users in Penrith, the Hills, Oatlands, Bankstown, Chester Hill, Liverpool and the Blue Mountains met for the first time last week to discuss the creation of the WSPTU umbrella group.

This meeting was to follow-up from the Transport Symposium where people clearly said that they wanted an 'umbrella group' to support the work of people working in local groups. We wrestled with how this could work and decided to develop the idea further. We want something that can give Western Sydney public transport users a more powerful voice.

The idea of the Umbrella is to be able to identify issues which are common to many Western Sydney public transport users and to try and gather support to advocate for solutions to these issues. The issue which is most strongly represented to us is that of 'local transport'.

Older people, and people living with mobility difficulties, who have been badly effected by the Bus Network Review are looking for people to support them to get transport services in their local area that better suit their needs. People repeatedly, and with great passion, say that they want their independence and don't want to be confined to their house.

Of course other issues, such as a better mass transit system into the Hills and the need for an integrated ticketing system are also issues likely to be important to the WSPTU. We also did a brainstorm about why Community Transport isn't working as an effective local transport system for older people. Most of the WSPTU participants (many in their 80s) are too young and healthy to qualify for community transport!!

We also decided to pick up on some local issues in between meetings to see if we could progress them.

Watch this space!

West Metro Station Recommendations

The NSW Government has revealed 11 proposed stations and a corridor alignment for the first extension of the Sydney Metro - the West Metro between Westmead, Parramatta and the city.

The Minister for Transport, Mr Campbell, said the recommended station locations for the West Metro are:
Sydney University
Camperdown
Leichhardt
Five Dock
Burwood
Strathfield
Sydney Olympic Park
Silverwater
Camellia
Parramatta
Westmead

The West Metro will plug into the Sydney Metro to link Central, Town Hall, Martin Place, Barrangaroo, Pyrmont and Rozelle.

Read the Minister's Press Release here:
http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/news/releases/090630-West-Metro-Alignment.pdf

Audit of the Bus Network Review

Improving the Performance of Metropolitan Bus Services
http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/info/in_progress/performance_detail.htm#bus

The bus contracts program places significant responsibility on government to ensure that passenger bus services are delivered in the right number, at the right place and at the right time to meet the needs of commuters without being an excessive burden on taxpayers.

In this audit, we look to see how well the Department of Transport and Infrastructure is managing the performance of metropolitan buses.

Our report will answer the following questions:

• Have clear performance objectives been set?
• Is operator performance closely monitored?
• Is performance information accurate and timely?
• Is action taken to correct any deficiencies?
  

For further information contact Sean Crumlin on +612 9275 7286or Chris Yates on +612 9275 7252.

New Train Timetable from October 11

"From today the new Timetable is available on the Transport Info website and I’m encouraging commuters to go online and familiarise themselves with it so they are prepared well in advance of October." the Minister of Transport said in a media release.

The Minister said the benefits of the new timetable would include:
. additional peak services to the Western, South and East Hills lines
. additional services 9am to 12 noon for Western, South, Northern and North Shore passengers
. additional carriages on peak hour trains to increase capacity
. a more even spread of patronage across peak hour trains
. additional weekend services on the Bankstown and Inner West Lines
. crowd relief at CBD stations through altered platform arrangements
. direct rail access from the CBD to the Macquarie Park/North Ryde employment corridor.

See the release here:
http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/news/releases/090706-CityRail-Timetable-Online.pdf

New M2 Services to the City from the Hills

Four extra Hillsbus services would operate on the M2 every weekday from today, bringing relief to passengers travelling from the North West to the City and North Sydney.
See the Minister's media release here:
http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/news/releases/090713-North-West-Buses.pdf

Cheaper fares for seniors around Australia

Media Statement - 6th July 2009
Jenny Macklin - Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Jenny Macklin


Australian seniors will be able to benefit from nation-wide, reciprocal public transport concessions, as part of a $50 million national agreement.

All seniors throughout Australia can now access concession fares on interstate public transport systems as part of the National Seniors Transport Scheme.

The Scheme will provide incentives for seniors to spend their tourist dollars in Australia and is a boost for communities and businesses that depend on tourism.

The commencement of a nation-wide Scheme follows the Western Australian and Queensland Governments' decision to adopt the new concession arrangements.

New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmanian, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory implemented the Scheme from 1 January 2009.

Until the beginning of this year, Seniors Card holders were only able to access public transport concessions in their home state.

This Scheme will benefit 800,000 Senior Card holders, who were previously unable to access public transport concessions outside their home state. This brings the total number of seniors who can access interstate concessions to more than 3 million.

The new Australia-wide concessions will enable older Australians to save money when they travel interstate, and make it more affordable for seniors to visit friends and families outside their home state.

The commencement of a nation-wide scheme delivers on a major election commitment.

This announcement builds on the Australian Government's recent agreement with Great Southern Rail to introduce concessions for Seniors Card holders on its services (the Indian Pacific, the Ghan and the Overland).

Seniors Cards are issued by state and territory governments to residents who are generally aged 60 years and over and no longer working full time.


Australian Government funding to states and territories for National Seniors Transport Scheme

State Four year funding

New South Wales $22,649,177

Victoria $6,272,885

Queensland $14,491,320

Western Australia $1,552,613

South Australia $1,401,448

Tasmania $431,995

Australian Capital Territory $648,866

Northern Territory $277,888

Total funding $47,726,192

Note: $2 million has been allocated for the provision of seniors concessions on Great Southern Rail services.

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