Glenorchy public forum confirms public desire for alternative integrated transport options;
Still waiting for Labor’s major urban public transport study;
Further evidence of Labor’s lack of leadership, vision and failure to plan properly for the future.
Liberal candidate for Denison, Alderman Elise Archer heard from residents of Glenorchy and the northern suburbs yesterday that they want to see alternative public transport options that are properly integrated services.
Ald Elise Archer attended the Glenorchy “Our island our voices” public forum on 3 November 2009 at 6.30pm where approximately 65 residents voiced their concerns after hearing from a number of guest speakers on the topic “Imagining a 21st Century Public Transport System for Southern Tasmania.”
(The same public forum will be held on Thursday, 5 November 2009 in Kingston).
Ald Elise Archer has been calling on the Premier and Infrastructure Minister to release to the public the Major Urban Public Transport Study since August 2009. It was due for release in April this year.
“This Study is expected to look at potential alternative public transport options for the next 10 years. I have been calling for the release of this study for several months now and I have been met with silence every time,” says Ald Elise Archer.
“The ‘Our island our voices’ public forum confirmed that many people want to see what’s in this transport study before the State Election in March 2010 and they want integrated transport options which compliment other services and connect with each other, to make their journey faster, easier, safer and cheaper, with less impact on the environment.”
“If the study is not released, people will be rightly cynical about the State Government’s lack of attention to public transport in Southern Tasmania. Meanwhile, the public continues to be delayed in traffic congestion throughout Hobart, and the Premier and the Minister responsible continue to sit on this report, which I believe was estimated to cost in the order of $280,000.”
“Infrastructure Minister Graeme Sturges has gone from crisis to crisis, and our infrastructure remains in chaos under his watch.”
“All options for improved and integrated public transport facilities for the greater Hobart area must be considered in the study, including (but not limited to) suburban ferry services, light rail services, and park and ride facilities. The study was to also look at petrol prices, car pooling and other issues related to transport.”
“Labor has had 11 years to come up with a plan and there is still nothing in sight. We must plan for the future and not restrict travel to our existing transport corridors,” Ald Elise Archer says.
Alderman Elise Archer (Hobart City Council) Liberal for Denison
