Page 5182 - Week 12 - Thursday, 27 October 2011
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argument—there is too much money spent on public transport and it needs to be reduced. This government believes we need to invest in public transport for the future and make sure that that investment is efficient and effective.
I note, too, Mr Coe’s criticisms about dead running. Of course, what he does not mention in relation to dead running is: who was it that closed the most central bus station in the city that would have eliminated the long distances that buses otherwise have to travel to return to depot for refuelling? Of course, it was the previous Liberal government.
Mr Smyth interjecting—
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order, Mr Smyth!
MR CORBELL: I note Mr Smyth’s criticism. He peeps up very quickly on that because he knows that the closure of the Woden bus depot dramatically increased dead running, because it dramatically increased the distances buses had to travel to return to depot to refuel and to be serviced or to return at the end of the shift. He knows that very well.
The government is committed to continuing to pursue its progressive agenda in relation to the provision of transport for this city. We released the transport for Canberra policy as a draft for community consultation earlier this month. It is the government’s blueprint to provide an effective and efficient transport system that meets the needs of the community while reducing its environmental and social impacts.
Transport for Canberra builds on the 2004 sustainable transport plan, to further build on the government’s strong record of delivering transport for Canberra by creating a transport system that puts people first. As Canberra grows and changes, transport for Canberra will help us to reduce traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions, while increasing the number of people using active and public transport to get to work from 20 per cent in 2011 to 23 per cent in 2016 and 30 per cent in 2026.
What the critique from the Liberal Party fails to recognise is that, without further improvements in the delivery of public transport services, we will see dramatic increases in the levels of congestion on Canberra roads. Everybody wins when public transport works. Everybody wins when the bus comes on time. Everybody wins when we have greater frequencies and better service delivery for public transport, because we will avoid the otherwise significant costs that will come from an increase in congestion, which is estimated by the relevant federal bureau of transport economics to be up to $200 million per annum by the year 2030 unless we take further steps.
The transport for Canberra strategy outlines a frequent network of buses and rapid transit running at a minimum of 15 minutes or less through main corridors; coverage services that feed into the frequent network and ensure access to public transport for all with every home within a maximum of 500 metres from a bus service with a minimum 60-minute frequency; a comprehensive system of safe bike-and-ride and park-and-ride facilities so that people can ride their bike or drive to a stop on the
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