Councillor Mick Van de Vreede represents Rowville and Lysterfield, suburbs in Melbourne's east. Cr Van de Vreede is also Chair of Knox Council’s Public Transport Consultative Committee and "Get On Board" is the committee's Public Transport Advocacy Campaign.

Typical of many of Melbourne's peripheral suburbs, Rowville and Lysterfield are poorly supported by public transport. When development began in the 1970s heavy rail was planned, but it has not eventuated. The present State Labor government promised a feasibility study into the project prior to the last State election, but the study has not eventuated. Instead Labor now says it has no plans to instigate a feasibility study and points the bus services it has introduced.

Councillor Van de Vreede's committee commissioned a pre-feasibility study in 2004 and the study found that rail could be commissioned mostly within the bounds of land already owned by government. The project would have the measurable benefit of moving 2350 passengers per hour who would otherwise be using cars.

But there are harder-to-measure Community Wellness benefits that would result. Families devoting less time and money to vehicle based commuting are likely to have more disposable income to spend on needs such as housing and family well being. As Rowville and Lysterfield continues to develop and a bubble of young people get a car, the situation is destined to get more pressing.

The "Get On Board" campaign seems to have hit a community nerve at a very opportune time. With a November State election and the emergence of the Greens as a viable third political party in the recent federal election, the stage is set for interesting times.

Podcast…

0 – 7.45: Chat

7.45 – 35.25: Public transport advocacy, and community wellness and affordable housing

35.25 – 38.43: Bees Chat

http://www.cpod.org.au/page.php?id=245