[Greens-Media] Transport master plan consultation waste of time and money - Greens

[Peter Stahel]

Transport master plan consultation waste of time and money - Greens

Reports that the O'Farrell government's draft Transport Masterplan will
have at its centrepiece massive investment in motorways is proof that the
government's lengthy consultation process has been a sham and a waste of
taxpayers money says Greens MP and transport spokesperson Cate Faehrmann.

See today's Sydney Morning Herald
http://smh.com.au/nsw/motorways-at-heart-of-master-plan-20120831-255pe.html

"It's now official. Premier O'Farrell and his Transport Minister have zero
interest in ensuring this state gets a world-class public transport system.
The entire public consultation process around this transport master plan
has been a sham from the beginning," said Ms Faehrmann.

"Shortly after taking office the O'Farrell government made a big deal of
consulting with the community to supposedly reach an agreed twenty year
vision for NSW public transport system. I can guarantee you that the vast
majority of the community are not crying out for new motorways.

"Over the past few months I've conducted many workshops across the state on
the government's proposed transport master plan. The overwhelming consensus
in the community is that this state needs a world class public transport
system.

"New motorways are not on the public's priority list. If the government's
transport master plan for the next twenty years prioritises new motorways
over public transport the Minister for Transport's public consultation
process has been nothing more than a total sham.

"More motorways is more of the same. Any Sydney commuter can tell you what
a failure that's been.

"If we don't see a major shift in funding priorities from roads to rail,
Sydney commuters will be doomed to even more congestion which is already
crippling businesses, impacting on people's health and polluting our
environment.

"The Premier needs to stand up to the roads lobby and rule out further
motorways until NSW gets the kind of investment in public transport
infrastructure it sorely needs. If we get this right, we won't need new
motorways," said Ms Faehrmann

Media contact: Peter Stahel 0433 005 727

-- 
Peter Stahel
+614 33 005 727
@peterstahel <http://twitter.com/#!/peterstahel>