[Greens-Media] Govt issues death notice for tunnel bus lanes

[Alison Orme]

MEDIA RELEASE - 28 August 2006

Government issues death notice for Lane Cove Tunnel bus lanes

Greens MP and roads spokesperson Lee Rhiannon says the government’s decision to ‘wait and see’ what happens on Epping Road after the opening of the Lane Cove Tunnel sounds the death knoll for promised bus, bike and pedestrian improvements.

“As sure as day, when the tunnel opens Epping Road will clog up with cars and the Roads Minister will deem bus and bike lanes untenable,” says Lane Cove Tunnel inquiry member Lee Rhiannon.  

“Mr Roozendaal says his government has learnt lessons from the Cross City Tunnel. 

”One lesson seems to be don’t even bother building bus and bike lanes because once a tunnel opens they are destined for the scrap heap. 

“The Iemma government’s ‘wait and see’ approach to planning is the natural bedfellow of a tendency to ‘bung in a tunnel’ and expect people to cop the mess.

“This government views bus, bike and pedestrian facilities as dispensible accessories to private sector road projects. In fact they are critical to a sustainable and liveable city. 

“Last week I made a dissenting recommendation in the Lane Cove Tunnel inquiry that the government not erode bus, bike and pedestrian facilities associated with the tunnel. It was not hard to predict Roozendaal’s announcement today.

“The Greens call on Minister Roozendaal to appoint independent public transport and urban planning experts to any review of surface road changes. 

“Professors Peter Newman or Ed Blakely, who walked away disillusioned by the government’s botched Metropolitan Strategy, would be good candidates for this job.

“A review team dominated by RTA and consortium representatives will inevitably prioritise roads above public transport and profits over the public interest,” Ms Rhiannon said.


More information:  9230 3551, 0427 861 568


Alison Orme
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Tues, Wed and alternate Mons)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0432 332 104
Email alison.orme at parliament.nsw.gov.au 
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au