[Greens-Media] Budget not all good news for Sydney transport

[Lee Rhiannon]

Media Release - 20 July 2007

Budget not all good news for Sydney transport

Greens MP and transport spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has warned Sydney
commuters to be wary of the Iemma Government*s crowing about increased
transport spending in the budget because it is not all good news.

*Sydney has no hope of becoming a sustainable city under this Labor
Government budget, with roads again winning out over public
transport,* said Ms Rhiannon.

*The Government*s $3.3 billion transport budget may be big but its
outlook is small. The $1.5 billion Railcorp will spend in Sydney is
mostly on cleaning up the mess it has made of CityRail.  

*Additional CityRail spending is long overdue and falls well short of
what is needed for Sydney to prepare itself for the effects of peak oil
and climate change.

*The Government*s priority is to increase the proportion of
journeys to work via public transport in inner Sydney to 75% by 2016,
but the Government is only working towards increasing journeys taken in
greater Sydney by 25%.  

*For Sydney*s transport system to be affordable and sustainable we
should be aiming for 75% of all journeys across Sydney to be made on
public transport, and much sooner than by 2016.   

*There is no budget announcement for bicycles or light rail.  Climate
change is upon us but with Mr Costa as Treasurer this government has its
head wedged in the sand.

*The long awaited accessibility upgrade for railway stations has also
missed the mark.  The allocated $43 million will only upgrade three new
stations and complete upgrade works already underway at eight other
stations.

*At this rate, disabled and elderly commuters who live near railway
stations with inadequate access could have to wait another 10 years to
gain access to Sydney*s public transport system. 

*Equal access to transport is an important human rights issue that
allows people of differing abilities to travel more independently.

*In this transport budget there is some money but no vision.

*The $376 million budget surplus should have been used to prepare
Sydney*s transport system for peak oil and climate change,* said Ms
Rhiannon.

For more information:  Lee Rhiannon * 0427 861 568

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Lee Rhiannon, MLC
The Greens
Parliament of New South Wales
Macquarie St 
Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Email   lee.rhiannon at parliament.nsw.gov.au
Web    http://www.lee.greens.org.au/

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