Action for Public Transport (N.S.W.) Inc.

MAYORS AGREE ON MASS TRANSIT NEED

This week, I hosted a meeting of Mayors and Councillors from seven inner Sydney Councils about increasing traffic and transport congestion in the region. The meeting unanimously agreed to call on the Premier to seek urgent solutions to mass transit problems in their local government regions.

The meeting included representatives from Sydney, Marrickville, Canada Bay, Leichhardt, Randwick, Waverley, Botany and Woollahra—some of the most densely populated districts of Australia, which will accommodate a substantial proportion of Sydney's future growth.

The Department of Infrastructure and Planning forecasts a 30 per cent increase in residential population in the City of Sydney, with CBD employment expected to grow by 20 per cent by 2021. Population in the Inner Suburbs is expected to grow by 20 per cent in this timeframe.

Sydney City Council presented the case for the development of mass transit options, including light rail and guided buses. Further urban density is not sustainable without a new, high quality mass transit network. It was agreed the State Government has a major role in facilitating this process.

Even though this group of community leaders comes from a wide range of political backgrounds, they all recognised the urgency in addressing this issue. The population continues to grow and the problems of congestion, pollution and inadequate public transport are only going to increase.

The meeting was also unanimous in the view that "more of the same" is not the answer. The meeting supported light rail as the mass transit mode needed to grow Sydney's status as a global city with an enviable international reputation as a desirable place to live and visit.

Light rail has the capacity to meet projected future growth for all the corridors in the proposed mass transit network. In the past ten years, over 100 cities around the world have expanded or established new light rail systems.

The Mayors are seeking urgent discussions with the Premier to pursue the vital transport infrastructure needs in inner Sydney.