Victoria Budget 2011-12

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--> http://www.budget.vic.gov.au/budget.html

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http://www.budget.vic.gov.au/budget.html

Coalition to plan for a better Victorian public transport network
From the Minister for Public Transport
03/05/2011

Coalition to plan for a better Victorian public transport network

The Victorian Coalition Government's 2011-12 Victorian Budget builds the foundation for the future expansion and improvement of Victoria's public transport network by funding the planning of five major rail extensions and the establishment of the Public Transport Development Authority (PTDA).

Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder said the PTDA would adopt a back-to-basics approach, including better maintenance, improved reliability and detailed planning for network expansion.

"The Authority will be a single public transport authority to administer our trains, trams and buses, replacing the current confusing structure of multiple agencies and authorities," Mr Mulder said.

"The first job of the Authority will be to audit all Victorian public transport assets and report publicly on the value and condition of those assets and the cost of renewing them and bringing them up to 21st century standards.

"The Authority will also play a key role in overseeing planning for new rail lines to Avalon and Melbourne airports and Doncaster."

Mr Mulder said the Budget delivered on commitments made by the Coalition Government, including:

        $10 million over four years to establish the Victorian Public Transport Development Authority;
        $6.5 million over two years for the Doncaster rail link planning study;
        $2 million over two years for a feasibility study into a rail line to Rowville;
        $6.5 million for a two-year feasibility study into a Melbourne Airport Rail Link;
        $3 million to start planning a direct rail link to Avalon Airport;
        $2 million to investigate reviving rail connections between Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo;
        $4 million over four years for an inter-capital high-speed rail planning unit within the PTDA; and
        $1.2 million over four years for the Taxi Services Commission.
        Mr Mulder said work had already commenced on the $2 million Rowville rail link feasibility study, which would examine a range of construction, operational, land use and environmental considerations and involve significant community consultation.

"We are committed to start building a rail link to Avalon Airport within our first term and have also committed to finding the best route for a rail link to Melbourne Airport," Mr Mulder said.

"We will identify the best route for a new rail link to Melbourne Airport at Tullamarine and investigate the preferred option of a centrally-located terminal at Melbourne Airport.

"We have allocated $3 million to begin investigations for the Avalon rail link which includes a new railway station at the airport and rail connections to both Geelong and Southern Cross.

"Avalon is Victoria's next international airport and already provides domestic air services for about 1.5 million passengers a year.

"A rail link will provide more choice for travellers to and from the airport and will create opportunities for the tourism industry in the Geelong area," Mr Mulder said.

In another boost for regional rail, $2 million will be invested in a planning study for the return of passenger trains between Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo.

Victorian families will also benefit from an inquiry into service, safety and competition issues in the Victorian taxi industry, led by Professor Allan Fels AO.

The Budget has allocated $1.2 million to establish a Taxi Services Commission following Professor Fels' investigation.

The Commission will take over the role of industry regulator, and will have the powers and tools necessary to reform the taxi industry.

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A transport reporter ...

--> http://media.theage.com.au/news/national-news/still-no-myki-news-2340936.html

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From the Herald Sun click here!

Money for transport studies, but no new trams, buses

Money for transport studies, but no new trams, buses

    Ashley Gardiner
    From: Herald Sun
    May 03, 2011 8:37PM

AN extra 30 million trips will be made on Melbourne's public transport in the next year.

But there was no new money for trams or buses, nor for any major road projects, such as WestLink, in yesterday's State Budget.

There was $37 million set aside for studies, including into planning lines to Doncaster, Rowville, and the two airports, Avalon and Tullamarine.

Studies will also be done into reopening the train line from Geelong to Ballarat and Bendigo, and also into removing 10 level crossings.

Seven new trains, the first of 40, will be ordered for $222 million.

Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder said the bulk of the money had been directed to these new trains and basic maintenance (which will get $100 million).

"We need to fix the problems that are obvious to people who use the trains every day," Mr Mulder said.

"Too often commuters are stranded by basic faults with wiring or signalling."

The State Government will also spend $10 million setting up its promised Public Transport Development Authority.

But the Budget revealed no details about the future of the troubled myki ticketing system.

Treasurer Kim Wells appeared to hint the Government intended to keep the struggling smartcard.

"When we take ownership of myki, we are going to make sure it works," Mr Wells said.

Belgrave commuter Meg MacDonald said she was not impressed by the purchase of seven trains.

"It doesn't equate to many extra services," Ms MacDonald said.

"The train system is not holding up. It is bursting at the seams."

She said the studies could become a waste of money.

Public Transport Users Association president Daniel Bowen welcomed the new transport authority.

"A lot of the problems we have are due to poor planning and management," Mr Bowen said.

RACV roads and traffic manager Peter Daly said more needed to be done to tackle congestion.

Opposition public transport spokeswoman Fiona Richardson said the State Government had failed to finance any major railway upgrades.

"(They) have taken Victorian commuters for a ride, with no investment in new bus services, extra trams, or more station staff at railway stations," Ms Richardson said.

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From the Melbourne Age click here!

Myki gets go-ahead as costs for station guards blow out $31 million

Myki gets go-ahead as costs for station guards blow out $31 million
May 4, 2011

MYKI will proceed under the Baillieu government, but treasurer Kim Wells yesterday refused to say how much more Victorians will pay for the bungled smartcard beyond the $1.35 billion already committed.

Speaking at the release of the budget yesterday, Mr Wells said the government was negotiating to make sure Victorians got the best deal possible for myki. ''When we [the Baillieu government] take ownership of myki, we are going to make sure it works,'' he said.

But he refused to give any detail on what the Baillieu government expected to spend on retaining myki.

Mr Wells' first budget revealed that the government's promise for armed guards on every railway station in Melbourne after dark had blown out by $31 million.

It will now cost $212 million, up from an expected $181 million during last year's election.

The budget also showed that spending on transport projects will see $1 billion pumped into the Victorian economy this financial year, with $601 million for road projects and $403 million for public transport.

To help pay for it, speed camera revenue would continue to climb under the Baillieu government, with Victorians expected to pay $257 million in fines next year, up $8 million on this year.

There was little new detail revealed on the $5 billion Regional Rail Link through Melbourne's west - the most expensive single rail project in Victoria's history and the first new rail line in over 80 years.

A $5 billion metro rail tunnel from Footscray to the CBD proposed in the Brumby government's Victorian Transport Plan has been all but abandoned by the Baillieu government. That didn't stop yesterday's budget noting $15 million will still go towards the project, a result of  Canberra having promised the money in 2009.

CLAY LUCAS

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/myki-gets-goahead-as-costs-for-station-guards-blow-out-31-million-20110503-1e6xh.html#ixzz1LJOQ4ec6

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Sent to all outlets:

4th May 2011

Budget 101 lessons

Greetings,

Big day in Victoria yesterday, with the delivery of their state budget.

Interesting that road / rail funding is planned to be 60/40.  A considerable shift and clearly indicates the direction needed in Queensland.

The bulk of the projected spending for public transport, the platform on which saw the Baillieu Government recently elected, is for rail. As it needs to be.

The privatisation/franchise experiment just resulted in the progressive run down of their rail network, which has proved costly in political and blunt economic terms.

See --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5888.0 for more budget background.

South-east Queensland is heading for a 'transport perfect storm' unless the authorities snap out of the failing car centric paradigm.

Time to re-prioritise transport projects into ones that are going to be sustainable. Time is running out.

Best wishes

Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

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PTUA Media release

http://www.ptua.org.au/2011/05/03/budget-2011-reaction/

Budget 2011: Shakeup of public transport planning and management welcomed

May 3rd, 2011 (Media releases)

The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has welcomed funding for the Coalition Government's Public Transport Development Authority (PTDA) in today's State Budget, but expressed disappointment at the lack of upgrades for tram and bus users.

PTUA President Daniel Bowen said that it was critical that the shakeup of planning and management of public transport go ahead to avoid in future the types of problems seen daily by passengers on the network.

"Overcrowding, a shortage of vehicles, poor connections, a lack of services into new suburbs – all of these problems are caused by poor planning", said Mr Bowen. "It is critical that the PTDA go ahead, and it is critical that it be staffed by the best experts available to get these problems fixed and get our public transport network performing as it should."

Mr Bowen noted that while the Budget included funding for planning rail projects, a number of road projects were funded for full construction. "This is another indicator of a failure to plan properly. The Department of Transport simply hasn't been proactive in thinking about how they can expand and develop the public transport network, unlike VicRoads, which has been planning ahead and has road projects ready to go as soon as the money is available."

However Mr Bowen said it was disappointing that overall new funding for roads outstripped public transport by some 50% [1]. And he said that while a number of worthwhile rail projects had been funded, there was almost nothing for trams and buses.

"This government came to power because of poor public transport. If you travel by rail, there are some good upgrades on the way, but some suburbs will never have rail, and if you rely on trams and buses, there's nothing for you in this budget.

"There's no new spending on bus services to new suburbs, no new Smartbuses, no tram extensions or improvements to help get trams and buses out of traffic jams."

Mr Bowen said that blowouts in the cost of the Regional Rail Link and Myki had crowded out other public transport improvements. "This underlines the need to openly and transparently review those projects and their alternatives, to ensure that we get the biggest bang for our public transport buck."

Mr Bowen said the PTDA should show the way forward to better planning, and improvements across the board.

"We will be watching as the government implements the PTDA, to ensure it's got the right powers and the right people to make a real difference. Done right, and with the appropriate backing and funding from government behind it, it's got the potential to make a tangible, positive difference to train, tram and bus users", concluded Mr Bowen.

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[1] Government media releases: "Coalition Government delivers $601 million boost for roads", "Coalition delivers $403 million to get back to basics and fix public transport" budget.eyemedia.com.au/CA25783300199E40/webmediareleases