News

Funding for Improved Public and Active Transport Needs to be Prioritised in Growth Areas Where People are Choosing to Live

In light of the Climate Council’s recent report, ‘Next Stop Suburbia: Making Shared Transport Work for Everyone in Aussie Cities’, it is clear we need to address the growing demand for improved public and active transport in Australia’s fastest-growing outer cities and suburbs. The daily struggle of residents in these areas is a stark reminder that funding for public and active transport must be prioritised to ensure sustainable growth and improved quality of life.

The Current Situation:

The report reveals a startling statistic: more than 7 million Australians in our five largest cities lack access to frequent, convenient, and reliable public transport. This inadequacy forces residents to rely heavily on private vehicles, leading to traffic congestion and increased pollution. Notably, the report highlighted several members of the National Growth Areas Alliance (NGAA) are among the most underserved by public transport, including Penrith and Campbelltown in NSW, Cardinia in VIC, Playford in SA, and Kwinana and Armadale in WA.

Case Study - City of Melton:

One NGAA member, the City of Melton, exemplifies the challenges faced by growth areas. Currently, 40,000 people live in new suburbs with no bus services. This number is set to rise with the development of 13,000 existing lots and 8,600 new lots in Aintree, Rockbank, Mount Atkinson, Deanside, Bonnie Brook, and Fraser Rise. Where bus services do exist, peak frequency is about 30 minutes, and routes are indirect, making travel times nearly double that of driving by car.

Impacts of Inadequate Public Transport:

1. Limits Access to Higher Education and Employment and Training Opportunities: Without reliable public transport, residents, especially young people face significant barriers to accessing higher education and employment, limiting their opportunities for personal and professional growth.
2. Underemployment in Growth Areas: For families with children, the absence of public transport makes it challenging for both parents to work outside their areas. Traffic congestion and long commutes complicate logistics for day care or school drop-offs and pick-ups, leading to underemployment where parents cannot take full-time jobs or positions matching their skill levels.
3. Recent Arrivals: New migrants and especially refugees and humanitarian entrants, often rely heavily on public transport as they may not have immediate access to private vehicles. The absence of public transport restricts their ability to integrate into the community, access essential services, and find employment.
4. Mental Health: Lack of public transport can contribute to social isolation, especially for older people, people with a disability, and those without other means of transportation. This isolation can have detrimental effects on mental health and overall well-being.

Policy Recommendation:

The NGAA supports the following Climate Council’s policy recommendations:

• Embed mode shift in all transport sector decarbonisation planning. This requires governments at all levels to plan for, and invest in, infrastructure and services that enable more Australians to choose cleaner, cheaper transport options more often.
• Deliver a Shared Transport Service Standard. This standard calls for state and territory governments to provide shared transport services operating at least every 15 minutes from 7am to 7pm, within 800 metres of every home within the existing urban footprint of Australia’s eight capital cities.

Call to Action:

Consultation is now open for the Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Consultation Roadmap, providing a critical opportunity to advocate for the necessary funding and strategic planning to address these challenges. Prioritising funding for improved public transport in growth areas is essential to ensure that these regions can thrive and that their residents can enjoy a higher quality of life.

By addressing these issues and implementing strategic public transport investments, we can create resilient, liveable and thriving communities for all Australians.