Any consideration of the future of Hobart’s transport system must include a dedicated transit hub, according to Greens’ candidate for Lord Mayor Ald Helen Burnet.
“Overall, there is a lack of coordination of transport in our inner city, impacting on the local commuters and those going further afield.
“The guesswork should be eliminated by bringing our one mass transport system under the same roof in a location convenient for office workers and visitors”, Ald Burnet said.
The call comes as Ald Burnet’s second major position announcement in the lead up to the October Council elections. It dovetails with her bid to attract 5000 new residents to live in the inner city within 10 years. Earlier in the week Ald Burnet called for a bolstering of ferry services and infrastructure to make river transport a viable option for commuters, particularly for the eastern shore.
“Hobart could better serve residents and visitors alike by coordinating many of our bus services to the suburbs and country areas. The major form of transport needs a dedicated transit centre, and we as a Council do need to work with Metro in order to get serious about identifying this”.
Ald Burnet will be proposing the following motion at Monday’s City Council meeting:
That a report be prepared to consider identifying a suitable location for a transit hub in the Hobart CBD.
The transit hub should meet the following criteria:
1. Located close to the waterfront in order to link with water traffic including ferry and cruise liner
2. Have capacity to accommodate private and public bus services with a rapid embarkation and disembarkation
3. Be close to or include taxi ranks
4. Consider the needs of people with access issues
5. Ensure cycle lanes and pedestrian links encourage healthy transport to and from the transit hub
Rationale
Hobart is one of the only major cities in Australia that does not have a coordinated transport point for intrastate and intra-city transport. A central, dedicated transit hub would help locals move more easily around Hobart and Tasmania. It would also provide a central point for visitors and tourists to access transport options otherwise lacking coordination.
Earlier this week…this is the ferry press release:
In a bid to reduce traffic congestion and provide a better start to the day for eastern shore commuters, Hobart Deputy Lord Mayor Alderman Helen Burnet has called for a better network of ferries and water taxis.
Speaking from Hobart’s waterfront today, Lord Mayoral candidate Helen Burnet said, “There are a number of commuters who have got the bug and embark on one of the world’s best trips to work and home again, here in Hobart on the Derwent. In less than 10 minutes they disembark at Sullivan’s Cove, close to work, shopping and Salamanca. It takes the stress out of travel, and is good for the environment.
“It is time again for Hobart and Clarence Councils and the state government to make commuting by water a viable alternative. ”
Ald Burnet is joined by Clarence Alderman Greens Deputy Mayoral candidate, Ald Kay McFarlane, who believes more ferries would be a welcome addition to the eastern shore too.
Ald Burnet added, “Real partnerships between state federal and local government are required to get this idea implemented. Simon Crean’s visit to Hobart last month and his call to have shovel-ready projects of regional significance, to me was the green light to have decent infrastructure proposals and the political will to deliver them.
Rod Howard, operator of Hobart Water Taxis has a regular group he ferries back and forth from Bellerive. “We could easily run ferries from other areas where the onshore facilities could be improved,” he said.
Alderman Burnet believes that this is a great opportunity to reduce the city and the region’s greenhouse gas emissions and the frustration faced by hundreds in traffic each morning. “I want to see more integrated transport options available, and that is why I’m calling on MAST, and the state and federal governments, to work for the southern region, and invest in infrastructure upgrades at Hobart, Montague Bay, Lindisfarne and Bellerive at least to give people this option.
“If we can take a hundred or more cars off the road and reduce the congestion on the Bridge each morning, car drivers are happy, and the environment benefits.”
Ald Burnet will be announcing later in the week more of her transport strategy to improve public and healthy transport options for Hobart and the southern region.
