| Date: | Wednesday, December 17, 2008 |
| Time: | 7:30pm - 10:30pm |
| Location: | Bluestone Church |
| Street: | Hyde St Footscray (Next to Maribyrnong Council) |
| City/Town: | Melbourne, Australia |
TRANSPORT action groups across the state will rally at Flinders Street Station later this month after reports the State Government will back Sir Rod Eddington’s proposed east-west road tunnel.Read the original article in StarNewsGroup.com.au
The No Freeway for West Footscray group has joined forces with Brimbank Transport Action Group, Royal Park Protection Group, Yarra Campaign Against Tunnel, and the Flemington and Kensington Transport Action Groups to become the Coalition of Transport Action Groups (CTAG).
CTAG is urging residents to wear red and black - to represent the train lines and stations on Melway - and congregate at the Flinders Street Station clocks at noon on Sunday 26 October for a community rally.
The rally will then move to Alexandra Gardens for a picnic and entertainment.
Protesters will be arriving by train to highlight the state’s need for better and more frequent public transport services.
Debbi Woods from the Brimbank Transport Action Group has ordered 800 dust masks to distribute in a demonstration against the “pollution of traffic” the proposed east-west road tunnel would cause.
Anne Parsons, from the No Freeway to West Footscray group, said organisers were expecting a few thousand residents to attend.
The coalition organised the rally after a Herald Sun article last month reported the State Government was looking into building the proposed east-west road tunnel in the West but would delay construction in the eastern suburbs.
The article also said the government was likely to back the Footscray to Caulfield rail tunnel.
Ms Parsons said the coalition was concerned the State Government would do a Band-Aid job to fix transport issues.
“We don’t want it (the road tunnel), period,” she said.
“We’re worried that commuters’ needs and the needs of the new millennium aren’t going to be met.”
Ms Parsons said the State Government was too busy trying to appease voters in marginal seats in the East instead of listening to the concerns of residents in safe Labor seats.
“The blatant disregard and arrogance of this present Government to its constituents in the West is just overwhelming,” she said.
“It’s going to affect all of us because not only will our homes be affected, our lifestyles and our health… will be sitting under a plume of diesel emissions and pollution.”
Representatives from each group met at the Trades Hall last week to finalise details.
Victorian Government spokesperson Michael Sinclair would not answer questions about the State Government’s thoughts on the road or rail tunnel.
Mr Sinclair said the Government’s Victorian Transport Plan, which would be released in November, would “respond to proposals for Melbourne’s east-west corridor in Sir Rod Eddington’s report and other transport priorities across the state”.
The groups elected to work together to oppose the state government’s plans for an East-West Tunnel and Toll Roads and to advocate for sustainable transport.
The meeting agreed on a joint campaign commencing with a community rally on Sunday, 26 October 2008 at noon at Flinders Street Station followed by a family picnic in the park.
Note the day and time in your diaries, tell your friends, get a group together, bring your placards and watch this space for further information.
More details here - http://www.ycat.org.au/?p=71
An email from Royal Park Protection Group
Dear Campaigners for Sustainable Public Transport No Road Tunnels - Report On No Road Tunnels Protest At Premier Brumby’s Transport Summit
Thanks to Protestors
Firstly, many thanks to all - about 50 people - who attended the community protest in the Plaza at the John Batman’s Datum (i.e. the red flagpole marking Batman’s Hill) at the Telstra Dome on Friday last 5 September 2008. It was at the difficult time of 1: 15 am for an 11:30 am start but was determined by the Premier’s Transport Summit which was scheduled to start at 12 noon.
Success of Community Protest
A measure of the success of the protest was that it was covered by four TV stations Channels 2, 7, 9 and 10. Channel 3 may be doing a documentary on the opposition to road tunnels. The Herald Sun mentioned our protest but not the Age news. (There has been a letter published today see below.) We expect that it may feature in local papers in the coming week including The Melbourne Times, The Moonee Valley and Melbourne Leader papers. (See the www.savehollandpark.org.au website for TV footage and photos by Baudman. See also www.ycat.org.au, YCAT website (Yarra Campaign Against the Tunnel)
Also an indication that we had been noticed - Premier Brumby refused to face the protest and went into the Transport Summit by a side door via the car park. We were there to present him, with the resolution passed at the rally. See attached and below. See also our media release of 4 September 2008.
Background - Failure of Government to Consult
Here is some background. As you may know the Brumby government staged 8 transport forums organised by the Department of Transport, ostensibly to consult with the public on Victoria’s Transport Plan. Members of Parliament with inner metropolitan seats. Members of Parliament with inner Melbourne seats - namely Bronwyn Pike (Melbourne), Richard Wynne (Richmond) and Carlo Carli (Brunswick) belatedly and at extremely short notice held their own forums.These forums were intended to provide community feedback for the Premier’s Transport Summit, which was originally scheduled for mid September. Although the MP’s declared that their forums were for local residents they were by invitation only and, significantly many community organisations, individuals and local residents were refused invitations and admission.
See Letter in the Age 8 September 2008: “Talking to all the ‘right’ people“
PREMIER John Brumby claims that we have been consulted over Sir Rod Eddington’s grand transport plan for Melbourne (Insight, 6/9). In the past month, eight transport forums - Clayton’s consultations - were held in country Victoria and outer suburbs, none in central Melbourne.
Then some Government MPs did their own thing and held forums. Carefully selected individuals and community groups were invited, but many were refused admission. ALP members did score invitations.
Forum facilitators ensured that controversial topics were not raised - such as Eddington’s $9 billion road tunnels through the inner city and elevated freeways through the western suburbs.
On Friday, the Premier evaded protesters waiting to present him with demands for sustainable public transport, slipping into his transport summit through the Telstra Dome car park. Not only is the Premier not properly consulting, but he also isn’t listening to the wider public on Melbourne’s transport fiascos.
Julianne Bell, convener, Royal Park Protection Group, Hawthorn
Organisers of Community Protest Opposing Road Tunnels
The Royal Park Protection Group (RPPG) and Yarra Campaign Against Tunnels (YCAT), in consultation with resident and environmental groups in the East and West of Melbourne facilitated the Community Protest for a wide range of groups and concerned individuals at the Premier’s Transport Summit. A special thanks to Freda Watkin of YCAT for her work on arranging the protest.Agenda
After recognising the Wurundgeri as traditional owners of the land, I - acting as MC in Rod Quantock’s absence - called on the speakers. Colleen Hartland, Greens Upper House Member of Parliament for the Western Metropolitan Province, spoke on the threat to the western suburbs of Eddington’s option for an elevated roadway through the western suburbs. It appears that 800 residences in its path may well be compulsorily acquired. Residents are in a state of uncertainty given that no proper plans have been released. She said that a number of groups in addition to the Greens have been formed including “No Freeway 4 Footscray”.Daniel Bowen, President of the Public Transport Users Association (PUT) spoke on the extraordinary demands on public transport and the need for funding. He also covered the news of the breaking scandal of the 8 Hitachi railway trains carriages, which had been been sold off cheap to a collector, but bought back for service and again decommissioned when it was found that they were rusted throughout.
John Cox spoke for YCAT on the threat to Yarra municipality of Eddington’s road tunnels and I spoke for the Royal Park Protection Group on the certain destruction of Royal Park if road tunnel construction proceeds. On an Open Mike session we had comments from organizations including the Carlton Residents Association; the Kensington Association; the Mt Alexander Road Campaign Group; and the West Sunshine Residents’ Group. Also attending were representatives from No Freeway 4 West Footscray group and Greens campaigning for No Freeway through Nillumbik.
Resolution to Premier
The meeting agreed unanimously to pass the draft resolution to the Premier. See attached and below. Protestors walked down the concourse with banners - and the media in attendance - and reassembled at Gate 9 where the Premier was expected to arrive at 12:30 pm. His staff insisted that the resolution be given to them to be passed onto the Premier. He evaded both the protest group and the media by entering the Transport Forum via the carpark. RPPG plans to distribute the resolution to members of Parliament.
- Resolution Addressed to the Premier 5 September 2008 (PDF)
- Royal Park Protection Group Inc.- Media Release 4th September 2008 - Protest Scheduled for Premier Brumby’s Transport Summit (PDF)
That this protest meeting, comprising community representatives from across Melbourne and facilitated by the Royal Park Protection Group Inc. (RPPG) and the Yarra Campaign against the tunnel (YCAT), resolve to request the Transport Summit and the State Government NOT to endorse Sir Rod Eddington’s proposals for road tunnels.
We demand that the nominal $9 billion allocated for the East West Link be invested instead in infrastructure for improved and expanded public transport and rail freight in Victoria. We ask that this include rapid transit rail to Doncaster along the Eastern Freeway.
Report from Protectors of Public Lands Victoria Inc. on Transport Summit
A representative of PPL VIC (a coalition of 80 or so Victoria wide environment, heritage and community groups) and attended the Transport Summit. We will circulate any reports we receive.Signed: Julianne Bell, Convenor Royal Park Protection Group Inc.
jbell5ATbigpond.com Phone 0408 022 408
By Belinda Nolan
Freeway fears … Three West Footscray mothers are unhappy about the new proposals for traffic tunnels and elevated freeways and the negative effect it might have on their area, from left, Ava, four, and mum Claire O’Sullivan, Anne Parsons and Lucy Liga with son Hamish.
A GROUP of Footscray mums is pressuring the State Government for better transport options, in protest against Eddington’s proposed road tunnel.
Claire O’Sullivan, Anne Parsons and Lucy Liga fear the elevated freeway recommended in the Eddington report would devalue their homes and lead to increased noise and pollution, if the government decides to adopt it.
The residents have started a new lobby group, No Freeway for West Footscray, to make their voices heard ahead of the release of the Premier’s transport plan later this year.
The group will hold a public meeting on 8 September to inform residents about the proposal and are inviting local MPs to attend.
The meeting will feature a talk from local real estate agents on how house prices would be affected if the tunnel was to go ahead.
“We believe there are better ways of spending public money,” Ms O’Sullivan said.
“We think that we deserve better in West Footscray and we believe there are better options for all of Melbourne.
“This money should be spent on improving public transport, especially to the outer suburbs.
“We need a plan for the future, not a quick fix,” Ms O’Sullivan said.
She said the group planned to drop 3000 leaflets in Footscray to let residents know what was proposed.
“A lot of residents do not know what’s going on,” she said.
The meeting will be held at Footscray YMCA at 7.30pm.
Venue: John Batman’s Datum (Red Flag Pole), Telstra Dome PlazaINVITATION TO ATTEND THE MELBOURNE TRANSPORT FORUM
The Brumby Government is preparing a major transport plan for Melbourne and regional Victoria.
This plan, which will be released by the end of the year, will provide a strategy for not only Melbourne's east and west, but also for our northern and south-eastern suburbs as well as regional Victoria.
To develop a plan that will apply to the diverse needs and aspirations of all Victorians I am contacting local organisations and groups with an interest in Melbourne's transport future. The purpose of the consultation is to provide an opportunity to learn more about Victoria's transport challenges, outline the current planning process, raise matters of concern, and identify opportunities for Victoria's future transport network.
I am interested in your ideas as local community representatives and therefore would like to invite two members of your organisation to attend the Melbourne Transport Forum so we can discuss these important issues.
The details of the Forum are provided below.
Date: Wednesday, 27 August 2008Time: 4.30 – 6pm
Location: 146 – 148 Peel St, North Melbourne, Mel Ref. 2B 10B
To register your attendance, please contact my office via telephone (03) 9328 4637 or email gabriella.aitken@parliament.vic.gov.au by Friday August 22.
I look forward to working with you at the Melbourne Transport Forum. The feedback I receive at this Forum will be considered at a Transport Summit, which will be hosted by the Premier in September.
Date Tuesday 26 August 2008
Time 8:30am to 11:30am (registration from 8:15am)
Location: The Ballroom
Beau Monde International Hotel
934 Doncaster Road, Doncaster East
Mel ref: 48 A1
Light refreshments will be provided.
To register your attendance at the event and to advise of any dietary requirements, please contact us on (03) 9655 6089 or email yoursay@transport.vic.gov.au
We look forward to working with you to help shape Victoria's future transport network.
Time: 12:45 pm for 1 pm to approximately 3 pm (including afternoon tea.)
Date: Saturday 9 August 2008
Venue: Upstairs, Nth Melbourne Library 66 Errol St. North Melbourne. (Two doors along from the corner of Queensberry and Errol Streets)
Transport: No 57 Tram from Elizabeth Street or nearby streets for parking.
Contact: Julianne Bell 98184114 or 0408022408 jbell5@bigpond.com
The details are:
Speakers include Yarra resident Freda Watkin, Yarra Mayor Cr Judy Morton, Paul Mees, Richard Wynne MP and Cr Stephen Jolly. YCAT is a community coalition of individuals & local groups concerned about the impact upon Collingwood, Clifton Hill, Fitzroy and Carlton of the proposed tunnel linking the Eastern Freeway to Melbourne’s west. If you want to be involved with the campaign come along! Everyone can play a part no matter how big or small!
More at: http://www.ycat.org.au
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