By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Transport on the brink of catastrophe is a pet hate, say residents…
CASEY Mayor Sam Aziz has said it is time for the State Government to take heed of a looming “catastrophe” after residents nominated traffic and public transport inertia as their pet hate in Casey council’s latest survey.
In the November Casey NEXT report, 32 per cent of surveyed residents nominated the issue as their top area for improvement.
Community safety was the second most popular concern at 15 per cent.
Cr Aziz said the result was unsurprising given the sluggish travel times for people going to work, dropping off kids and even doing their Saturday shopping.
The State Government recently allocated a “completely disproportionate” $1.8 billion for arterial roads – all in Melbourne’s western suburbs, despite the south-east’s infrastructure gap, he said.
“We are growing faster than the west. Looking at that alone, we should be getting 1.5 times the funds.
“The Government take for granted that they hold three seats in the south-east and those seats haven’t changed in recent elections.
“It’s a shame the confidence of the voters hasn’t been looked after with this particular funding.”
The situation was headed for a “catastrophe” which would be made worse by rate-capping, Cr Aziz said.
Cr Aziz said a new round of advocacy early in 2017 would make it “imperative for Casey and Cardinia to be looked after”.
“People need to start paying attention so that the government receives the message loud and clear and won’t tolerate being neglected.”
The council’s long wish-list includes an extension of Cranbourne railway line, upgrading Narre Warren railway station, extending O’Shea Road to the Beaconsfield interchange and duplicating Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road from Thompsons Road to South Gippsland Highway.
It is also lobbying for an extension of Thompsons Road into a Casey-Cardinia employment hub – which would ease the congestion of city-bound workers on the Monash Freeway.
Readers told Star News of traffic jams at Thompsons Road-Western Port Highway roundabout, Clyde Road-Greaves Road intersection and Soldiers Road.
Clyde Road and the Monash Freeway were popular frustrations.
Public Transport Users Association spokesman Daniel Bowen said poor bus links with infrequent services, and congested rail lines were bug-bears.
“While it’s good that Casey has rail access, there are big gaps between the train lines which, at the moment, are only covered by inadequate bus services.
“Duplication of the Cranbourne line will still be needed (to increase train services), as will better bus services to help people get to stations.”
Recently, the State Government began work on widening the Monash Freeway between Clyde Road and EastLink and announced an upgrade of Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road and a fully funded duplication of Thompsons Road and the removal of Merinda Park level crossing.
The skyrail and Metro Rail Tunnel projects are said to create capacity for more frequent rail services on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines.
Roads Minister and Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan said further road upgrades in the south-east were being considered.
“Since coming to government, we haven’t wasted a minute in delivering projects the south-east desperately needs to cut travel times, reduce traffic and improve safety for local residents.
“Ryan Smith and his previous Liberal Government colleagues sat on their hands for four years as our roads grew busier and more congested,” he said.
Opposition roads spokesman Ryan Smith had criticised Mr Donnellan over the western suburbs roads announcement.
“Commuters in the south-east have a daily battle on the Monash Freeway as growth continues to soar in Casey and Cardinia.
“If Luke Donnellan lived in his electorate he might understand the congestion his constituents face, but Narre Warren is a world away from his inner city home in Fitzroy.”
