Tim Pallas Underestimates the West, Pays the Price

An obviously under-prepared Minister for Transport, Tim Pallas, drew the ire of residents from Footscray, Kingsville, Tottenham, Yarraville and Sunshine on Wednesday 17th December when addressing a Public Meeting organised by No Freeway for West Footscray and Brimbank Transport Action Group.

Pallas clearly failed to understand the concerns of residents, particularly in relation to the proposed “Westgate Alternative” which will see Road freight spilling out in West Footscray and causing a truck-onslaught for Tottenham and Sunshine Residents.

While some Footscray residents clearly welcome a truck diversion, there is general consensus that a tunnel opening into Sunshine Rd in West Footscray is bad policy. We suggest that Minister Pallas do some homework and real consultation before he puts his head up in the Western Suburbs again. We also suggest that he not use the term “market value” in relation to compulsory acquisition, given that his Government’s Transport Plan has caused property values in affected areas to nose-dive.

Lastly, we register our disgust that promises of information and consultation that were made by the Department of Transport in the weeks leading up to the launch of the Transport Plan, have not been honoured.

If sitting MPs don’t start to listen, they will find themselves voted out - “safe” seat or not.

Read the original at respectthewest.wordpress.com

No Freeway 4 West Footscray - Public Meeting

No Freeway 4 West Footscray are holding a public meeting in light of the Victorian Transport Plan, to learn more about the 'Westgate alternative' tunnel proposal and the Truck Route. Support your neighbours, and anyway, seeing how Kensington Road and beyond lead to/away from this tunnel, it may effect you more than you think!

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

Public Meeting with Minister Tim Pallas and local MP Marsha Thomson to answer concerns about the Road Tunnel & Stage 2 Truck Route as announced.

More details as follows
http://www.nofreeway.org/
or for those on FaceBook http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=50092648017&ref=share

Mums oppose freeway plan

By Belinda Nolan

Purchase this photo from Star Photos

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.

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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.

Read the original article at StarNewsGroup.com.au

So that's Monday Sept 8th, at 7:30pm at the Footscray YMCA.