The road tunnel does not make good economic sense
According to the Eddindton report cost benefit analysis the road tunnel will cost $7 billion to build and the value of the benefits will be $3 billion. (Source: Eddington Report cost benefit analysis)
Melbourne's transport congestion is caused by an over reliance on cars
A parliamentary committee has found that one out of every 100 residents in some of Melbourne's outer suburbs use public transport alone to get to work. (Source: The Age 13/10/2008)
More cars are driven to work each day in Melbourne than in Sydney, despite Sydney's much bigger workforce. The share of workers who drive is now higher in Melbourne than in Sydney, Brisbane, Hobart and even Canberra. This appears to be a result of Melbourne having constructed more urban freeways and tollways over the last 30 years than any other capital. Melbourne has been labelled the 'worst performing city over the (past) three decades' in terms of reducing its dependency on private car transport. (Source: Melbourne University research reported in the Age on 13/10/2008)
Indicators that the Vicorian Labor government favours roads over public transport
In April, Roads Minister Tim Pallas was appointed, ahead of Public Transport Minister, Lynne Kosky, as lead minister to oversee the government's Victorian Transport Plan. It will be no surprise if that transport plan will includes big road projects and cosmetic improvements to public transport.
Source: The Age 18/10/2008
News 18/10/2008 Labor roads before public transport policy
The Brumby governemt is digging us into a bigger hole with their plan to build a $700 million freeway between Frankston and Mount Martha.
See The Age 17/10/2008
See The Age Article 18/10/2008
News Oct 16 Volunteers meeting organises for community rally
BTAG volunteers met at the West Sunshine community centre on Thursday October 16. The volunteers have organised letterboxing, a banner painting workshop, petitioning at the Brimbank festival and leafleting railway stations. "Hands off our Homes! Public Transport Not Roads" placards are being produced for people's front yards. Plans are under way for T-Shirts, stickers and badges. We need donations and advance purchases to get these projects of the ground. If you would like to help call Ken on 0448 482 800 or register your support.
News Oct 13 & 14 Eddington and Conflict of Interest
Sir Rod Eddington has resigned from the board of Hakluyt, an organisation that sold government intelligence to big business after accusations in the Age newspaper of conflict of interest. Eddington is the head of Infrastructure Australia, the body set up by the federal government to spend $20 billion on infrastructure projects in Australia. Until yesterday he was also on the board of Hakluyt, whose clients are a closely guarded secret. Among those discovered are oil companies Shell and BP.
Eddington was also the architect of the East-West transport plan that recommends massive expenditure on roads including a road tunnel that would result in people losing their homes. Are the oil companies still clients of Hakluyt? Does Hakluyt have more road lobby clients? Isn't there a conflict of interest between Eddington's role in designing Melbourne's transport plan and his membership of the Hakluyt board?
News Oct 13 Parliamentary committee finds PT usage low in Melbourne
A parliamentary committee has found that 70% of people travel to work by car. In some parts of Melbourne only 1 in every 100 people travel to work solely by public transport. See the full story in the Age.
News Oct 12 Labor Party Transport committee secretary resigns!
The secretary of the Labor Party's Transport committee has resigned over ALP's support for the recommendations of the Eddington Report. While this indicates that there is dissent in the Labor party's ranks. It also indicates that the government is poised to support all of the Eddington recommendations when it brings down its decision in November. It is time to step up our efforts. See full story in the age. | 
