With 2026 being a state election year, local governments around Melbourne are working out what to advocate for their areas. These inevitably include a large transport component, especially for growth area councils.
Politically we are facing a long-term state government that is struggling in the opinion polls. It defined itself by its large projects but is now beset by the consequent debt. The opposition has had its own problems including party disunity to the point of legal action. Support for the established major parties is in long-term decline with the
High Court striking down restrictions on smaller parties and independents to raise funds yesterday. And One Nation has emerged as a significant threat, with opinion poll numbers translating into actual support and even seats in the recent SA state election.
I discussed local government advocacy in
2019 and again in
2022. Today I'm back to check how councils are going with their transport priorities for this election campaign.
Most councils have something out that's reasonably current (ie 2025-2026). However content with regards to public transport varies widely. Eg there might be very little of it, it might be low quality (eg advocacy for tried and now discredited FlexiRide services) or it may be vague. Councils may have published specifics in more detail some time ago but may not always have reaffirmed it in a recent document.
Below is a council-by-council list of what I've been able to find as their advocacy priorities in 2026:
Banyule
Adopted in 2025. Key requests include the promised but not proceeded with bus network review, an upgraded Watsonia Station and specific requests for improved bus routes, mostly serving the La Trobe University precinct.
Bayside
Key requests include improved bus frequency, specifically a frequent shuttle between Sandringham and Southland.
Boroondarahttps://yoursay.boroondara.vic.gov.au/kew-kew-east-balwyn-north-bus-survey
Boroondara has no known advocacy plan but recently did the above survey to guide advocacy on buses.
Brimbank
https://www.brimbank.vic.gov.au/media-release/brimbank-advocacy-priorities-2025-2027
Some high level priorities above, including the redeveloped Sunshine station.
Cardinia
https://creating.cardinia.vic.gov.au/cardinia-calls/advocacy-agenda-2025-29
Advocates a public transport package including improved bus services.
Casey
https://conversations.casey.vic.gov.au/bettercasey/transport-and-roads
Casey's main public transport ask is the extension of the Cranbourne line to Clyde. There is also a comprehensive list of growth area coverage extensions and frequency improvements on routes 828 and 893.
Darebin
https://www.darebin.vic.gov.au/About-council/Advocacy-and-projects/Advocating-for-all-of-our-community
Most recent advocacy appears to be 2022 - update needed.
Frankston
https://www.frankston.vic.gov.au/Council/News-and-media/Latest-News/Media-Releases-2026/Putting-Frankston-City-First-ahead-of-state-election
Emphasis on sporting facilities, community services and shared user paths. Public transport advocacy not a priority.
Glen Eira
https://www.gleneira.vic.gov.au/get-involved/election-advocacy
Separate documents by state seat. Generalities only on PT. More detail, including boosts for routes 630, 824 and 903 appear in their 2019 Public Transport Advocacy Plan.
Greater Dandenong
https://www.greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/advocacy
Main asks include a FlexiRide trial for Dandenong South, potentially useful routing of buses through Dandenong CBD and a diversion of the hourly Route 814 to Monash University Clayton. Some detailed work was done a few years ago with the Greater Dandenong Public Transport Advocacy Statement produced. Greater Dandenong is a member of the Eastern Transport Coalition.
Hobsons Bay
https://www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/Council/Advocacy-priorities/Connected-and-reliable-public-and-active-transport
Council advocates for 'connected and reliable public transport' but only in the most general terms. Hobsons Bay has previously advocated for Melbourne Metro 2 and, some time ago, set down its advocacy priorities including a train station at Altona North and a comprehensive western region bus network review. There is significant community campaigning for improved bus and train services in this part of Melbourne.
Hume
Public Transport advocacy priorities include a redeveloped Broadmeadows Station, and, in conjunction with Northern Councils Alliance, Upfield line extension and electrification.
Kingston
Like Casey, Kingston supports an upgraded Route 828 bus (every 20 min 7 days/week) with this as a key priority. Weekend frequency upgrades for buses 708 and 903 are major priorities. Longer term Kingston would like to see a Sandringham - Southland bus via Bay Rd (like Bayside Council supports), a Southland - Elsternwick Nepean Hwy route and a Boundary/Clayton Rd service to connect Mordialloc with Monash.
Knox
Council has long advocated a tram extension to Knox City and rail to Rowville. Knox is an Eastern Transport Coalition member.
Manningham
https://www.manningham.vic.gov.au/about-council/how-council-works/strategies-and-action-plans/advocacy
Manningham supports a high frequency busway from Mitcham to the CBD (907 alignment). They also want Doncaster to be included in the first stage of the Suburban Rail Loop. More detail is in their
Transport Action Plan from 2021. Manningham is a member of the Eastern Transport Coalition.
Maribyrnong
The construction of the long awaited transport interchange at Irving St Footscray is a major advocacy focus for this inner-west council. Maribyrnong also backs bus reform and Infrastructure Victoria's proposal for a bus rapid transit between Maribyrnong and Tarneit via Ashley St and Tottenham Station. A 57 tram extension, accessible stops along the 82 and a frequent Sunshine to Highpoint connection are also requested.
Maroondah
No asks for public transport in the above. However Maroondah knows what needs to be done with a comprehensive transport strategy released last year (which I
reviewed here). I was particularly impressed with their advocacy for 10 minute train frequencies to Ringwood and a Route 737 hours and frequency upgrade to SmartBus. Maroondah has withdrawn from the Eastern Transport Coalition.
Melbourne
Fishermans Bend is a priority for the City of Melbourne with them wanting frequent buses, tram connections and Melbourne Metro 2 connecting to the precinct. For other areas council support tram extensions to Arden via Arden St and West Melbourne via Spencer St. A completion date for airport rail is asked for. Electrification of buses and more of our trains is another priority.
The city wants the free tram zone extended but says nothing about probably the most critical factor to get more people into the city for longer which is better train and tram frequency, especially evenings and weekend mornings.
Melton
As one of Melbourne's fastest growing areas, Melton has been actively requesting more transport investments. The centrepiece of its public transport advocacy is an electrified Melton line and new stations at Mt Atkinson, Thornhill Park and Calder Park (on the Sunbury line). Council also supports expanded and reconfigured more direct bus routes operating at turn-up-and-go frequencies.
Merri-bek
Along with other northern councils, Merri-bek advocates for an upgrade and extension for the Upfield line including electrification to Wallan. Better east-west bus connectivity, including Sunday and evening service, is another key request. Accessible stops on tram route 19 are also advocated. Merri-bek is a member of the Northern Councils Alliance.
Mitchell
Monash
Moonee Valley
No known recent advocacy strategy. Link above is for 2022's.
Mornington Peninsula
Not only is there the state election but also the
Nepean by-election on May 2. Key priorities for advocacy include Stony Point line electrification, Improved express buses to Frankston with a 15 minute frequency, longer FlexiRide hours and zero emissions buses.
Nillumbik
Council advocates a bus network review to improve access, especially in rural parts of the shire. Nillumbik is a member of the Northern Councils Alliance.
Port Phillip
Advocacy statement proposes transport upgrades for Fishermans Bend, including Melbourne Metro 2, a tram connection and an upgrade to the 606 bus. Connectivity to the area from Anzac Station is a priority with the promised Park St tram link advocated as well as a bus connection to Fishermans Bend. For trams council wants 96 and 109 capacity improvements and an extension of Route 78 in to Port Phillip.
Stonnington
Above links to a very detailed Transport Advocacy Plan but it is a few years old. It floats ideas for tram extensions for routes that stop just short of train stations, eg 3, 5 and 6. Turn up and go frequencies on all modes is supported. There is significant attention to buses too. Council priorities include an extension of bus route 734 to Caulfield station and an Elsternwick - Victoria Gardens bus (partially implemented when 603 was rerouted to Burnley).
Whitehorse
Council advocates upgrades to the Box Hill Bus interchange, Laburnum station car park and accessibility for Route 75 tram stops. There is no advocacy for improved rail frequency or bus services.
Whittlesea
Wollert rail by 2030 and improved buses are the major themes of Whittlesea's public transport asks. Rail would add four stations to the network including Epping Central. Bus priorities include improved services for Epping North and Wollert (some of which were funded in the 2025 state budget), better east-west connections with main routes running every 10 minutes and improved coverage in Donnybrook. Whittlesea is a member of the Northern Councils Alliance.
Wyndham
Wyndham's advocacy documents are above. There is a large number for various past elections and budget cycles. Nothing yet for this year's state election.
Yarra
City of Yarra's advocacy roadmap is above. It requests little specific in the transport area, though there is supports improved train and tram accessibility and the delivery of the North East Link bus way.
Yarra Ranges
Yarra Ranges would like to see a duplication of the Lilydale line and a new station at Cave Hill. Council also supports increased frequency and longer hours for both bus and train services. Expanded FlexiRides that also run on Sundays is also suggested.
Council groupings
Some councils support collective bodies that aim to do region-wide advocacy. Examples include:
Northern Councils Alliance (northern Melbourne)
Outer Melbourne Councils (outer Melbourne)
West of Melbourne Economic Development Alliance (western Melbourne)
In some cases councils might effectively outsource their transport advocacy to these grouping, choosing to do little themselves. However that may or may not be effective as they vary significantly in their activity.
Given rate-capping, recent fuel price hikes and changing priorities, some councils are reappraising the value of paying into advocacy bodies with some suffering reduced membership.
12 advocacy tips for councils
As you might have gathered, the quality of advocacy we have seen from councils has varied. Councils themselves have been under pressure, which might have affected their work. Many councillors and council officers read this blog, so with that in mind here are some advocacy tips to succeed in 2026:
* Be sensitive to how long advocacy plans take. Councils sometimes find they need to publicly consult on advocacy and/or do market research. This can give legitimacy to what they advocate on (which is good). However public consultation takes extra time. That's fine if the work is done early enough but if not the timing can sabotage success. If time is short it might be better to get something out as soon as possible.
* Get the timing right. Councils need to be very aware of the budget and political cycles, with the latter especially important in an election year. The budget processes take longer than most outsiders think. You want your ideas out while the department is framing its business case for the budget. Advocacy that is too late will be politely brushed off and just wastes everyone's time. In 2025/26 key dates were middle to late last year for the May 2026 state budget. Especially in an election year advocacy activity should continue up to and beyond the budget because even if an initiative does not get budget funding you want it to be picked up by at least one and preferably all parties in the subsequent election year.
* Tailor the size of your asks to the prevailing political and budgetary environment. There is always money for some new initiatives, even though the general feeling is that the 'government is broke'. Right now there is the competing pressures of a heavy debt burden and a long-term government, struggling in the polls, wishing to win votes. I suggest including both small and large initiatives in your advocacy, asking for a bit more than you might normally request in a non-election year. In the current political environment large multi-billion projects have the disadvantage of being indivisible (ie all or nothing) while something like bus upgrades can be scaled to available budgets. Effective advocacy of sound initiatives effectively generates interest and wherewithal that was not understood to exist before so is well worth doing.
* Advocate to the right part of government. DTP is very constrained in its ability to originate funding. Councils might meet with department officers but the latter are rarely in a position to commit to much; ministers' offices take a dim view of expectations being raised without authorisation or budget sign-off. Winning support at the political level, eg local MPs and the minister, is important as the latter do have more pull (although still not totally as there is still a matter of approval from Cabinet and treasury for major spending decisions).
* Ask for specific things with a clear list. Some requests are too vague. Or they might ask for a review of bus routes. 2022-3 was a searing experience for councils in the northern suburbs. Councils thought they won a major bus network review only for the government to go back on its word after it had been comfortably re-elected. The lesson from that is never trust a vague promise of a review. Instead request specific measures and campaign on them hard.
* Know and be reasonably consistent with departmental thinking if possible. While I might have been dismissive of the department's influence above, being cognisant of their thinking is still vital. This is because a minister will often run a proposal past the department for an expert opinion. At this point your idea is still fragile; you don't want it dealt a mortal blow by the department considering it stupid, impractical or low priority. Even though it came from a community campaign and was not in any of DTP's priority areas for bus reform, because the Route 800 was consistent with their bus plan philosophy of more frequent main road bus routes and was easy to implement, the advice to the minister was likely supportive (it just needed funding which eventually came). Advocating councils also need to be aware of changes in thinking. For example several councils are still advocating FlexiRide buses in 2025-26 even though this was an over-hyped 2022-era fad that is now rightly discredited due to poor reliability and productivity.
* Appreciate what is easy and what is harder or more expensive to implement. Know what is and is not effective. Be able to sort the substance from the fluff. As an example off-peak, weekend and hours extensions on existing popular bus routes is low cost, high benefit and quick to do but aren't as visibly supported by some councils as they should be. Whereas complex bus network reform can take years and is easy to derail if controversial. It's OK to advocate those but include some short-term 'quick wins' too, otherwise you might end up with nothing.
* Don't be scared of rail advocacy. Especially for off-peak services that are cheaper to add. Possibly because council transport officers are more likely to have a roads based background, rail can seem a foreign land. Some councils in areas that could benefit greater from higher rail frequencies might only advocate for improved buses. When in fact both are necessary to form a proper connected network useful all week.
* Asking for a train or tram extension can sometimes be worthwhile. A strong enough campaign might convince government to give you improved buses. That might not have happened if you asked for the buses directly.
* Be conscious of network synergies across council areas. Advocacy opportunities exist with adjoining councils along a railway line or major high performing bus route that deserves a service lift. Make use of any council grouping you're a member of. In cases I have seen councils may pay into these groupings but the advocacy priorities they have for your area are poor quality. Don't let this happen - this lets your side down and is poor value for ratepayers.
* Seek alliances with third parties in your advocacy. The government system is like an acupuncture patient in that it can respond to pressure, but not in all places. Others, such as business groups and community advocates, can needle decision-makers in places that are less easy for local councils to do. Similar messages from multiple directions increases the chance of government taking up your advocacy priorities. This is because amount of correspondence and level of community interest are factors taken into account when the department and especially the minister are formulating priorities.
* Get your transport advocacy asks in one simple document. And put a date on it to give assurance that it is current. Don't rely on a vague recent document and older detailed strategies (eg 'integrated transport plans') that people will struggle to find. Also include an easy call to action so that residents are encouraged to support advocacy priorities by contacting MPs.
Conclusion
Especially in an election year, councils across Melbourne can play a helpful role in advocating for public transport improvement. Have a look at what your council is advocating. Get on to your mayor and councillors if you think they should be advocating things they aren't.
Also if you see something significant that your council has started advocating on but isn't mentioned above, please let me know in the comments.
Disclosure: I have advised or assisted some of the above councils in their advocacy.
