The higher the level of government, the bigger is its revenue base. Thus states governments are always asking the federal government for money. And local governments often ask both federal and state governments for things. The latter is topical as Victorians go to the polls in about seven weeks.
Candidates and parties will be competing fiercely for votes. So there's a bidding war with hospitals, schools, roads, train stations and police stations all being promised. Some state elections have had themes. Eg 2010, 2014 and 2018 were dominated by transport infrastructure. 2022 is shaping up to be about health infrastructure (notably hospitals). Transport services (in the form of reliability) got prominence in 2010 but it's been a while since transport services (in the form of frequency) rated.
I discussed local council transport strategies in 2019. Many also had advocacy plans back then. Almost all have been tweaked for 2022. It's not hard to know why. With both federal and state elections, 2022 has been a bumper year for advocacy (and the consultants that advise) in order to squeeze as much promises and funding as they can from ScoMo, Albo, Dan(iel) and/or Matt(hew). After all if you spend just $1m to convince another government to spend $1 billion on your pet scheme then that's pretty good leverage in anyone's language (and credit you can claim without taxing your own people much).
So here's 2022's crop of council transport advocacy plans, ordered by council. It's worth remembering them through the campaign as they can be a source of ideas from candidates and parties.
Many good PT proposals including a comprehensive bus review for Banyule, improved bus connections to La Trobe University, bus equivalent to Suburban Rail Loop ('SRL SmartBus' concept), Chandler Hwy 609 bus extended to La Trobe Uni with boosted frequency, Hurstbridge line duplication and station/interchange upgrades. The government is currently consulting on some small bus simplifications in the St Helena area. Along with doing major bus reviews in the north and north-east which will likely simplify some routes in Banyule. So council may be able to tick some things off its list.
Bayside
Support much-needed simplification of the horridly complex 600/922/923 bus routes including better connections to Beaumaris Secondary College. Also better SRL design around Southland and level crossing removals at Highett.
Booroondara (part of climate action plan)
Not much found.
Brimbank
Precinct revitalisation, notably around and including Sunshine and Albion stations. Ballarat Rd light rail, high frequency bus routes and better connections between services until late at night. The government has added a rebuilt Albion station to its scope of projects for the Airport line and is consulting on a new regional platform for Sunshine station.
Cardinia
Frequency upgrades and/or route extensions for specific local bus routes. NightRider bus network extension. 926 frequency upgrade a glaring omission as this is a trunk highway route with some >70 minute gaps.
Suburban rail extension to Clyde. This was promised by the Liberals yesterday.
Electric orbital bus along the SRL corridor (essentially an 'SRL SmartBus') between La Trobe Uni and Melbourne Airport via Reservoir and Fawkner. Chandler Hwy bus route connecting La Trobe Uni to Burnley Station. Tram 86 stop accessibility upgrades. Route 11 tram extended to Reservoir with electric bus route in the interim. Train and bus frequency improvements and better east-west bus routes.
Not much found despite complex and infrequent bus network in much of area along with local parking issues.
Elsternwick - Clayton light rail via North Rd. 'Trackless rapid transit' from Caulfield to Rowville. Nothing for train frequencies or buses advocated.
Initially you don't think there's much. Key PT-related priorities for this election include DDA access and bicycle parking at Yarraman station. There are also some useful pedestrian connectivity upgrades. There's more in their detailed transport advocacy statement. Priorities include a rebuilt Dandenong Station, a Monash Uni - Keysborough - Dandenong South - Narre Warren bus and faster bus routes generally. Free 'Early Bird' travel extended to buses to relieve pressure at station car parks is another request. However much success here is unlikely unless local buses run more frequently than their typical 30 to 60 minutes.
Advocates building Melbourne Metro 2, investigating a train station at Altona North, review of bus services across area (especially Altona Meadows and Altona North) and bicycle parkiteers at all train stations.
4 out of 6 key projects advocated for were road upgrades. 1 out of 6 was public transport related - a much needed upgrade to Broadmeadows Station precinct including a 'higher education services transport hub'.
Kingston (& more recently )
To its credit council has recently been very active in advocating for improved interchange between modes at the Southland/Cheltenham SRL station site. On other transit advocacy they've been quieter. For example, despite climate emergency talk their advocacy for the 2022 election is all about building more roads (which induce more driving including on feeder streets). Their one token mention of public transport concerns an upgrade for Huntingdale Station which isn't even in the municipality.
Knox ( media here )
Manningham
Merri-Bek/Moreland
Monash
Moonee Valley
Public transport advocacy priorities include a Knox tram and Rowville rail. The recent news article has different emphasis including a 'trackless tram' between Caulfield and Rowville. Labor promised Rowville light rail in 2018 but has said little since. Meanwhile there's been a later 'trackless rapid transit' proposal from commercial interests. Also mentioned in the article is a vastly longer 75 tram including to Upper Ferntree Gully and Bayswater business precinct. Low train frequencies and buses, the area's most pressing public transport needs, don't get the same emphasis. However council does promote its participation in the Eastern Transport Coalition grouping which does advocate for buses.
Key public transport advocacy is a request for $3m for a Doncaster Rd Bus Rapid Transit feasibility study. Doncaster Rd is a very popular bus corridor supporting the well-used 907 bus along with other routes including the 902 orbital. Also requested is a bus service that replicates the Suburban Rail Loop alignment given that SRL isn't coming to Manningham for many years. This draws on an Infrastructure Victoria recommendation. Manningham's specific request is a frequent route that starts at Monash University and operates express services to Deakin University, Box Hill Station, Doncaster, Bulleen, Heidelberg and La Trobe University. Mixed use development around Doncaster Park and Ride is also something that Council would like to see.
Maribyrnong
not known
Maroondah
not known
Melbourne
Improved connections to Fishermans Bend is the big priority. And much more than the extra buses starting this month. While suburban councils find it hard asking a few million a year for bus upgrades, the audacious City of Melbourne are requesting both light rail and Metro Tunnel 2 to better connect Fishermans Bend. And it's probably needed if they want to make it much of a place that's accessible from all directions. Council hopes that the tram will be running by 2025 - the year that Melbourne University's campus is planned to open.
Improved connections to Fishermans Bend is the big priority. And much more than the extra buses starting this month. While suburban councils find it hard asking a few million a year for bus upgrades, the audacious City of Melbourne are requesting both light rail and Metro Tunnel 2 to better connect Fishermans Bend. And it's probably needed if they want to make it much of a place that's accessible from all directions. Council hopes that the tram will be running by 2025 - the year that Melbourne University's campus is planned to open.
Melton ( media coverage )
Melton has previously advocated for both rail electrification and roads, but, possibly frustrated by apparently slow movement on the former (including 'Western Rail Plan' promises made in 2018) has gone for a "Fix our Roads" theme in 2022. Melton is considered one of the seats to watch. Yesterday the state government announced a new Melton station and the removal of four level crossings in the area.
Has presented a strong public transport wish-list including upgrading and duplicating the Upfield line to permit more services, local station modernisations and reconfiguring the City Loop to free up capacity. Council is also advocating for improved east-west buses, notably for the low income and poorly served Fawkner.
Council isn't directly asking for much in the PT space. However they do want a redeveloped Oakleigh Station precinct. A Westall Rd extension is their key roads request. Part of its justification includes opportunities to improve public transport speeds on parallel roads like Blackburn and Springvale Rd. Unfortunately such thinking does not always endure - Stud Rd got a bus lane after Eastlink opened but it was later removed. Monash Council is an active member of the Eastern Transport Coalition which is advocating for a reviewed bus network and trackless rapid transit.
Moonee Valley
This had just one main ask for public transport - the grandly named 'Western Gateway Station' on the Airport rail line and ultimately the Suburban Rail Loop. The government's announced they're building it so chalk that up as a win.
Mornington Peninsula advocated for improved buses before the 2018 election campaign, notably a more frequent Route 788. They succeeded in getting this and other network improvements during a time where funding for expanded bus services was extremely lean. This time they want a more frequent express bus to Frankston (887 is fast but currently only runs every 60 - 120 min), a cross-peninsula Mornington to Hastings service, extended FlexiRide hours and bike racks on buses.
Would like to see redevelopment of the area around Diamond Creek station including a level crossing removal. Also advocated for is a northern area bus network review. This is sensible since on the one hand the area has many bus routes but they are not necessarily very well used nor do they connect with trains. Parts of the latter may happen sooner than expected with the government recently announcing major bus reviews in the north, north-east as well as smaller reforms affecting parts of Eltham.
Would like to see an upgrade of the 109 tram terminus at Port Melbourne noting its status as a gateway for visitors from cruise ships (though no longer the Spirit of Tasmania). Like the City of Melbourne, Port Phillip is advocating for a tram to Fishermans Bend followed by Metro 2. Upgraded weekday buses were recently announced for the area.
Stonnington
Stonnington want funding for electric car charging points.
Whitehorse
not known
Whittlesea
Wyndham
Yarra
Yarra Ranges
Stonnington want funding for electric car charging points.
Whitehorse
not known
Whittlesea
Northern growth area council with a strong list of asks. These include Wallan rail electrification, Wollert rail and, before it commences, a high quality bus every 10 minutes to Epping. An extension of the 86 tram to South Morang Station is also advocated.
Council is advocating for Wyndham to be included in the Geelong Fast Rail project. Also they want progress on the Western Rail Plan including electrification, more stations and a Wyndham Vale - Werribee connection. Better buses are also proposed, with the statement pointing out that Wyndham is home to 9 of the 20 most productive bus routes in Melbourne (which I discussed here).
In the public transport space, Yarra, like Banyule and Darebin, supports a Chandler Hwy bus to improve north-south connectivity to La Trobe University. The most economical way of achieving this would likely involve bus resources from the existing 350, 567 and 609 routes with the main administrative complication being that they are run by two different bus companies. A key benefit for Yarra would be a north-south bus along Burnley St, better connecting Richmond. Yarra also supports an upgraded Burnley station and the roll-out of more DDA compliant tram stops.
Yarra Ranges
Yarra Ranges have some bus requests. The one with the most patronage potential is improved frequency and express services on the area's key trunk routes of Lilydale - Warburton (683) and Chirnside Park - Healesville (685). They also want FlexiRide service for Healesville and Belgrave area. Healesville is currently undergoing a mini-review (with a 685 upgrade proposed) while routes around Upwey/Belgrave remain extremely complex and deserving of attention.
That's it from Melbourne's local governments.
Documents vary in the attention they give to public transport. Some councils prepared significant documents some time ago but dropped PT as a priority in their election asks. Others have stuck to a small number of major infrastructure requests. Some bus initiatives have support across local government areas. Most prominent is frequent and direct buses along the Suburban Rail Loop ('SRL SmartBus' concept) and Chandler Hwy/La Trobe University corridors. Both are good ideas and should be embraced by government and non-government parties alike.
Have a read of some and tell us what you think in the comments. Also let me know if there are omissions as the ease of finding published information varies and only limited time was available per council to discover relevant documents.
3 comments:
Melbourne council's request of trams to Fisherman's Bend are a waste, because trams lack the capacity to develop the area to the number of jobs and residents that are planned. It's better to lobby for frequent bus routes, and earlier construction of MM2. With two MM2 stations, one to the south of the freeway and one to the north, each with two entrances, the whole developable area will be within a walkable ped-shed of about 500 m from a station entrance, without the need to invest in trams.
@Malcolm M - Fishermans Bend needs a network of trains, trams and buses. Trams are a good start.
@Malcolm M - Fishermans Bend needs a network of trains, trams and buses to cater to the planned number of jobs and residents that are planned. Trams are a very good start.
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