City of Casey s Transport Advocacy Campaign

City of Casey s Transport Advocacy Campaign

Snapshot of the City of Casey CASEY IS VICTORIA S LARGEST MUNICIPALITY The City of Casey is Victoria s largest municipality, with a population of more than 253,000 (December 2011). It is also one of the state s fastest growing - up to 125 people move into Casey each week, the equivalent of 2,275 households a year. Journey to Work data in Casey 403,000 253,000 320,000 Source: Casey economic and community profile City of Casey, AEC group, February 2010 page 16 Source: City of Casey Population Forecasts (.id) November 2011 In mid 2010, the Victorian Government introduced new legislation to significantly expand Melbourne s Urban Growth Boundary (UGB). For Casey, these changes mean an additional 5,000 hectares earmarked for residential development, which will take Casey s population to in excess of 450,000 by 2036. Casey s population has more than doubled in the last 20 years, rising from about 113,000 in 1991 to about 253,000 in 2011. The vast majority of recent growth has occurred in Narre Warren South, Berwick (South), Lynbrook - Lyndhurst, Cranbourne East, Cranbourne West and Botanic Ridge. As population growth outpaces infrastructure development, Casey continues to face numerous transport challenges with pressure to keep pace with much-needed road, as well as public transport improvements. CASEY URGENTLY NEEDS IMPROVED TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE Casey has one of the highest levels of car ownership per capita in Victoria. Private vehicles account for 88.5 per cent of all journey to work trips from Casey and 91.4 per cent to Casey, with public transport accounting for only 2.4 per cent of trips to Casey and 6.8 per cent of trips from the City of Casey. For those living in Casey the cost of transport can be high. A study of all Melbourne Local Government Areas reveals that only Cardinia residents spend more on fuel each week than those in Casey 1. ABS Census Journey to Work data has been analysed to track where workers live and work to establish the movements of Casey s resident workforce. Overall, 74 per cent of workers living in Casey travel to work outside of Casey. The City of Casey believes the State Government must invest in all modes of transport, and the supporting infrastructure, to allow Casey residents to choose the best means of transport for the type of journey they are making on any day of the week. Residents should spend less time commuting and more time with family and friends. With heavily congested main roads and inadequate public transport this is simply not realistic for residents in the City of Casey. Time spent commuting adversely affects the health and wellbeing of residents who have limited time to prepare quality meals, exercise and spend time with family. 2. 1 Institute for Sensible Transport: Report, Oil Vulnerability in Melbourne, November 2009; page 6, Figure 5

CASEY RESIDENTS VULNERABLE TO IMPACTS OF INADEQUATE TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE State Roads State roads are a Victorian Government responsibility. Casey s population growth continues to put pressure on the existing road network and will do so for many years to come. The Victorian Government has undertaken some improvements to the arterial road network over recent years. However, the state road system in Casey is still in a catch-up phase so continued funding commitments are required to ensure the community has access to high standard links to work and other activities. In 2010, Casey was ranked second out of 78 municipalities in terms of the number of people killed in road crashes and second in 2008 in terms of the number of people seriously injured in road crashes 2. Between 2006 and 2010, there were 2,632 crashes where at least one person was killed or injured in Casey. In these 2,632 crashes, 62 people were killed and 1,456 people were seriously injured 3. Collisions with vehicles was far and away the most common type of crash and drivers and passengers were among those injured or killed most often 4. During this period there were over 1,500 casualty accidents on declared/state roads in Casey 5. Figures like these show that urgent work needs to be done on Casey s busiest roads to give the City of Casey a road network capable of dealing with the volumes of traffic passing through and around the municipality every day. Public Transport Generally, developments on the fringe of cities lack public transport infrastructure and there is no option other than car use. This deficit in public transport is particularly exposed in the new release areas 6, and extremely relevant to residents of Casey s new estates where public transport infrastructure has not yet been provided. Research shows that suburbs developed without adequate public transport infrastructure have a long-term, significant effect on both the local natural environment and ultimately, social and economic impacts for the residents 7. This is exactly what the City of Casey seeks to avoid. As such, bus services to new estates, including Marriott Waters in Lyndhurst, Brookland Greens in Cranbourne and the Botanic Ridge suburb are urgently required. Without an easily accessible, reliable public transport alternative, Casey residents are unlikely to give up their private motor vehicles once these transport behaviour patterns become set. CASEY HOSTS FORUM TO RAISE TRANSPORT ISSUES The City of Casey hosted the Better Roads, Better Buses, Better Trains Forum on 16 November 2011. The aim of the forum was to raise awareness of transport issues in Melbourne s outer south east and present them to relevant government authorities to ensure they address these as part of any future plans for the region. At the forum, community members, local business owners and residents had a unique opportunity to hear from the City of Casey, South East Melbourne Manufacturer s Alliance (SEMMA), RACV, VicRoads and the Department of Transport regarding the future plans for the transport network in Melbourne s outer south east. The forum demonstrated that Casey residents want action now. More information on the forum is available on page 10. Thompsons Road, Cranbourne West 2 TACSafety website, www.tacsafety.com.au, Statistics section, accessed 01/12/11 3 VicRoads Crash Stats application: Municipality: Casey, Declared Roads, From 01/01/2006 To 31/12/2010, Casualty. Accessed via http://crashstat1.roads.vic.gov.au/crashstats/crash.htm 1/12/2011 4 TACSafety website, www.tacsafety.com.au, Statistics section, accessed 01/12/11 5 VicRoads Crash Stats application: Municipality: Casey, Declared Roads, From 01/01/2006 To 31/12/2010, Casualty. Accessed via http://crashstat1.roads.vic.gov.au/crashstats/crash.htm 1/12/2011 6 House of Representatives Standing Committee on Environment and Heritage; Sustainable Cities Report: p72, 5.58, September 2005, cites Urban Frontiers Program Submission 113, p6; Mt John Stanley, Bus Industry Confederation, Transcript of Evidence, 13 May 2004, p19. 7 Sustainable Cities Report: p73, 5.62, cites City of Newcastle, Submission 113, p6 3.

What we need: Better Roads IMPROVED CAPACITY OF THE MONASH FREEWAY As the City of Casey s population increases, so does the volume of traffic on the primary arterial into and out of the municipality the Monash Freeway. Residents urgently require the capacity of the Monash Freeway, combined with the city s east-west connections to be improved to ensure a more timely commute and improved quality of life. For nearly 75,000 residents who travel outside the City of Casey each day for work, the battle for many drivers is getting worse as severe congestion on the Monash Freeway brings commuters to a crawl well back past the Clyde Road, Berwick on-ramp. Casey and Cardinia currently have a combined population of approximately 330,000 and this is projected to grow to 600,000 over the next 25-30 years. If urgent infrastructure improvements on the Monash Freeway and east-west connections are not carried out by the State Government, the problem will only get significantly worse as thousands of families move into the region each year. The City of Casey believes the following improvement works need to be undertaken urgently: Construction of a third lane on the Hallam Bypass Upgrade of the Monash/South Gippsland Freeway merge Extension of the Dandenong Southern Bypass to South Gippsland Freeway Full duplication of Thompsons Road from Dandenong- Frankston Road to South Gippsland Highway. Council believes the Monash Freeway upgrade is a key component in a range of transport infrastructure improvements required to support the continued growth in the region, however; the May 2011 State Budget release failed to commit funding for new projects or public transport service improvements in Casey. Due to the lack of State Government funding to deliver a functioning transport network, both existing and new residents of Casey will continue to experience delays as they travel to and from the municipality. STATE ARTERIAL ROAD IMPROVEMENTS As the City of Casey s population increases at a rate of around 6,000-7,000 people per year, so does the volume of traffic on the municipality s country-style roads. Casey s city-sized population urgently needs critical sections of the arterial road network to be duplicated or upgraded now to ensure that the City of Casey remains a great place to live, work and play. State roads (Declared Arterial Roads) are a Victorian Government responsibility. Casey s massive population growth continues to put pressure on the existing road network and will do so for many years to come. The state road system in Casey is still in a catch-up phase (country roads with city traffic) so continued funding commitments are required to ensure the community has access to high standard links to work and other activities. Council believes that keeping pace with the necessary road duplications and intersection upgrades is essential to the safety and sustainability of Casey s road network. The City of Casey has priority lists of state road duplication and intersection upgrades that need to be urgently undertaken in Casey. For the purpose of the 2011-12 advocacy program, this campaign will focus on the following three priorities: 1. Full duplication of Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road 2. Upgrade intersection of South Gippsland Highway / Hallam Road / Evans Road 3. Upgrade intersection of Thompsons Road / Western Port Highway. 1. Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road duplication Will significantly improve access to local residential estates, including various schools and community facilities. Improve the key spine that facilitates public transport between the Cranbourne and Narre Warren / Fountain Gate Activity Centres. Will support improvement of Casey Central Activity Centre. The staged delivery of the Cranbourne Bypass continues to be a key priority of the City of Casey s advocacy program. The State Government could commence delivery of the bypass by an immediate upgrade and duplication of Narre Warren- Cranbourne Road, from Linsell Boulevard to Sladen Street. 2. South Gippsland Highway / Hallam Road / Evans Road Adverse amenity impacts are being experienced on local roads from freight and quarry vehicles avoiding this intersection to access South Gippsland Highway. Delivery of this intersection will provide a connection between Lyndhurst and Lynbrook by supporting the opening of Evans Road. 4. Monash Freeway, Doveton

STATE ARTERIAL ROAD PRIORITIES Freeway Upgrades F1: Monash Freeway Princes Freeway (South Gippsland Freeway merge to Beaconsfield) Main Road Diversions RD1: Southern Dandenong Bypass extension (South Gippsland Highway to South Gippsland Freeway) RD2: Princes Highway / South Gippsland Freeway interchange (third lane or south east ramp) RD3: Cranbourne Bypass RD4: O Shea Road extension (Princes Freeway to Clyde Road) Main Road Duplications / Upgrades D1: Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road (Pound Road to Thompsons Road) D2: Hallam Road (Princes Highway to Pound Road) D3: Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road (Thompsons Road to South Gippsland Highway) D4: Hallam Road (Ormond Road to South Gippsland Highway) D5: Thompsons Road (South Gippsland Highway to Western Port Highway) D6: Sladen Street (Codrington Street to Cameron Street) D7: Narre Warren North Road-Belgrave Hallam Road (Ernst Wanke Road to Heatherton Road) D8: Berwick Cranbourne Road Clyde Fiveways Road (Thompsons Road to South Gippsland Highway) Main Road Intersection Upgrades IU1: South Gippsland Highway / Hallam Road / Evans Road IU2: Thompsons Road / Western Port Highway IU3: Pound Road / Shrives Road IU4: Clyde Road / O Shea Road / Greaves Road IU5: Princes Freeway (M1) / Clyde Road IU6: South Gippsland Highway / Clyde Fiveways Road IU7: Heatherton Road / Hallam Road 3. Thompsons Road / Western Port Highway This intersection supports the freight movement to Port of Hastings and east-west connections to Eastlink. There are significant congestion issues at this intersection during commuter peaks. Congestion at the intersection is creating a significant transference of traffic onto local roads that are not suitable for commuter volumes, affecting the amenity of local residents. 5.

What we need: Better Buses EXPANDED BUS SERVICES Without an easily accessible, reliable public transport alternative, Casey residents are unlikely to give up their private motor vehicles. Current bus routes and timetables do not adequately serve the Casey community and residents of new estates, including Marriott Waters in Lyndhurst, Brookland Greens in Cranbourne and the Botanic Ridge suburb are currently un-serviced by any existing bus route. In addition to services needed in many new estates, the City of Casey also needs: Enhanced bus services running seven days a week from early morning to late evening Services to be increased to 30 minute frequencies on local services during the day and higher frequencies during peak periods Local bus timetables to be more closely coordinated with the trains. Casey needs a sub-regional bus service that is frequent and fast, linking the city from north to south and east to west. This will allow our residents to have an alternative transport option other than their private motor cars when accessing jobs, services and recreational opportunities in the region. The Cardinia/Casey and Casey/Greater Dandenong Bus Service Review has recommended many improvements to the local bus network, but it didn t go far enough. Casey needs: Better bus services connecting Casey residents to the Dandenong South employment area. This is one of Melbourne s most significant employment areas and employs a large number of Casey residents, and is currently very poorly serviced by public transport A new Smart Bus service that connects Dandenong to Frankston via Narre Warren and Cranbourne. For more information on Council s bus services advocacy campaign visit www.casey.vic.gov.au/transportinfrastructurecampaign New estates without buses 6.

What we need: Better Trains CRANBOURNE EAST RAILWAY STATION In addition to expanded bus services, the City of Casey continues to advocate for the immediate construction of the Cranbourne East railway station as a priority for usable, sustainable public transport in Casey. Cranbourne East is a significant growth area within Casey and it is imperative that community infrastructure is in place ahead of thousands of new families and before car travel patterns become established. The City of Casey has been pushing for the extension of the Cranbourne railway line for many years and it was an undelivered pre-election promise of the Bracks Government in 1999. Casey residents need the Cranbourne East railway station now. Cranbourne East is already a major community sport and leisure hub. The vicinity of the proposed station includes important regional sports and leisure facilities such as Casey Fields, the Casey RACE, Casey Indoor Leisure Complex, as well as The Factory, The Shed and Cranbourne Library which provide muchneeded outlets for youth and cater for Casey residents of all ages. These facilities will become much more accessible if the new railway station is constructed. City of Casey forecasts predict the population of the greater Cranbourne area will exceed 155,000 by 2031. RAILWAY STATION CAR PARKING The State Government has recently constructed new car parks at Berwick, Hallam and Cranbourne railway stations, and made a commitment to construct 350 additional car parking spaces at Merinda Park station; however, parking is still an issue at Narre Warren station. To make rail travel more attractive and support Council s goal of increasing public transport patronage, 100 additional car parking spaces are required at Narre Warren station. Even with recent improvements, commuters struggle to find a car park at stations. Improved local bus services must be provided that link buses to every train, so that commuters can leave their car at home. PREMIUM STATIONS The City of Casey believes the new Lynbrook Station (expected to be complete mid 2012), and the existing railway stations at Merinda Park and Hallam should be upgraded to premium standard including staffing and toilet facilities. Upgrading stations to premium standard within Casey will provide commuters with: Improved security and customer service Toilet facilities which allow for better levels of service for commuters facing long train journeys into the CBD Consistent standards across the metropolitan rail network. AYLMER ROAD UNDERPASS A road underpass at Aylmer Road (under Cranbourne rail line), Lynbrook (adjacent to Lynbrook Railway Station, currently under construction) is required to ensure Lynbrook and Lyndhurst residents are able to fully participate in their community. The current road configuration means that residents must make a lengthy round-trip to access services and facilities which should, by rights, be on their doorstep. Crossing the railway line currently involves an 8-10 km round trip along highways and arterial roads that are often congested during peak periods An underpass at Aylmer Road will provide direct access to the local shopping centre, schools and community facilities Completion of the underpass will allow bus services to be extended from Lynbrook into Lyndhurst immediately Improved access for emergency vehicles The underpass would integrate the communities of Lyndhurst and Lynbrook, rather than isolate the Lyndhurst community. For more information on Public Transport Infrastructure visit www.casey.vic.gov.au/transportinfrastructurecampaign A train passes where residents cannot between Lynbrook and Lyndhurst 7.

Community Frustration Improved Capacity of the Monash Freeway: Do you think something needs to be done to ease traffic congestion on the Monash Freeway in Casey? Why? >>> Traffic congestion on the Monash Freeway through Casey adds between 1/2 an hour to an hour to my journeys to and from work each day. During non-peak times, I can make the trip from my home at Drouin South to my workplace at Clayton in as little as 55 minutes. During peak times it generally takes me a minimum of 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes. The trip home is generally a little longer. An extra lane would alleviate the problem and prevent so many accidents occurring. Just look at the amount of skid marks through the Casey part of the freeway to see how stop-and-start the traffic is. brigittemcdonald Comment 2 Jul 2011 >>> When can we have the Belgrave Hallam 3 lanes upgrade? Travelling from Tinks Rd to East Link during the morning and evening peak hours is now taking at least 20-25mins run for only 11km of distance. This section needs urgent upgrading to improve livability, productivity and sensibility. It should long been a 3 lanes freeway from the start but looking at it now even 3 lanes may only be a short term solution. JL1 Comment 20 Sep 2011 >>> I live in Berwick and work in Alphington, I travel along the Monash/Eastlink/Eastern freeways daily (53km oneway), for me the 10km stretch of Monash freeway between Dandenong and Berwick can quite often take 25-30 minutes alone. Its almost amusing that I can usually travel the rest of the 40km in less time than it takes to do that 10km section. lazzar Comment 9 Oct 2011 >>> Today (like many other days) should not have happened. My son nearly didn t make his uni exams which started at 9.30am at Caulfield Racecourse. We left just after 7.00am from Berwick and got to our destination (totally stressed) at 9.40am. It was bumper to bumper all the way on the Monash and the traffic totally stopped wherever there was merging onto the freeway. In fact it took 10 mins just to get from the Clyde Road merging ramp onto the Freeway! My husband tells me of this hell everyday as he travels the Freeway into the City and back many times a day! But the look on my sons face told the whole picture... fear and frustration that he nearly failed his university course due to not being able to get to his exams on time and he is only one of thousands that have this frustration and anger they face every day. It s time NOW to make our Freeway first priority with the Government. More lanes are needed in both directions instead of wasting our tax payers money just building security fencing along the freeway. Perhaps if every member of parliament drove the freeway in peak hours the decision to improve our freeways would have been done years ago! jlm Comment 8 Nov 2011 Construction of the Cranbourne Bypass: Do you believe a bypass is needed to improve traffic flow through Cranbourne? Why? >>> I was driving into Cranbourne last night, the first time I drove around the peak hour of 6 pm. I was shocked to see how choc-a-block the Cranbourne-Narre Warren Rd and Thompsons Rds were. I am moving into Cranbourne East next year and I am reconsidering my decision after last night s experience. I believe there is some urgent need for widening or double laning several of these roads. With the council permitting 1000s of new houses in estates around these areas, there is not enough road development in the area. In the next 2 years, driving would be a nightmare going by the current trend of increased traffic growth. jims2020 Comment 30 Jul 2011 State Road Improvements: In your opinion, which key arterial road and intersection improvements are most important to you? >>> We seriously need 2 lanes on Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road going from Narre Warren to Cranbourne (past Casey shopping centre). One lane is really not enough considering the amount of traffic that uses it. With buses and cars trying to merge from the left hand side (at the last minute) it is becoming increasingly dangerous. With the amount of growth in this area, it is staggering to me that this hasn t been thought of, or acted upon by now! In this day and age, 2 lanes should be the norm on any road in Narre Warren and the surrounding areas. Madmel Comment 5 July 2011 8.

What questions or comments would you like raised/ discussed at the Better Roads Better Buses Better Trains Forum? >>> Aylmer Road needs to have an underpass put in (by the new train station) to connect Lyndhurst and Lynbrook for residents ASAP. Also train users soon face having a 10km drive to get from the carpark on one side of the station to the carpark on the other side if one is full. David Comment 12 Oct 2011 >>> As a Lyndhurst resident I have no choice but to drive up to 10 minutes just to go to the local shops, doctors, dentist, abc childcare centre etc. The jouney time would be just a few minutes if the Aylmer Road underpass was built. During peak hours I often walk for 20 minutes to Lynbrook village just because the drive with traffic is too much. My other issue is trying to leave Merinda Park station. The constant flow off traffic on Thompson Road makes it impossible to exit quickly. I usually have to wait in a queue of cars up to 20 minutes just to leave the car park! priscilla Comment 12 Oct 2011 Extended and Enhanced Bus Services: What improvements would you like to see to bus services in Casey? >>> We currently live in Botanic Ridge, we have 3 teenage children, 2 of whom work part time, the nearest bus stop is over 4klms away on busy Frankston-Cranbourne Rd, as we both work it is near impossible to get our kids to work via car everytime. This area now has sufficient population to warrant a bus service, we see regularly children walking this lengthy distance and having to cross Pearcedale Rd, where the traffic has continued to build and build, hence this makes this walk not only lengthy but now dangerous, I also note another writer as advised of snakes my two children have also encountered snakes on several occasions, now they refuse to walk on the path during hot days in fear. There is growing unrest in this area of this councils lack of action on this matter, this is a very basic service and needs to be addressed asap. KG45 Comment 16 Jul 2011 9.

Outcomes from the Better Roads, Better Buses, Better Trains Forum The City of Casey hosted the Better Roads, Better Buses, Better Trains Forum on 16 November 2011 to discuss: the future of the Monash Freeway (Hallam Bypass) and the associated road network and, opportunities to increase public transport connections in Melbourne s outer south east. The forum provided an opportunity for community members along with State MPs, local business owners and community leaders, to hear from the City of Casey, South East Melbourne Manufacturer s Alliance (SEMMA), RACV, VicRoads and the Department of Transport regarding the future plans for the transport network in Melbourne s outer south east and to discuss future road and transport opportunities for the region. At the forum, representatives from VicRoads and the Department of Transport, presented their plans for road and transport improvements to meet the very high population growth trajectory in the region. CITY OF CASEY Council s presentation reinforced community frustration with arterial roads and public transport in Casey failing to keep pace with population growth and the urgent need for improvements to the region s transport network. Paul Hamilton, Manager Transport from the City of Casey outlined transport issues in Casey and presented Council s transport priorities. 10.

RACV The RACV presentation detailed what transport improvements are needed and that these need to be funded immediately. RACV discussed Outer Melbourne Connect, released in 2008, as a blueprint comprising road improvements, rail line extensions and significant public transport service improvements to meet the needs of people living in and travelling through Melbourne s outer suburbs. Connect provides a comprehensive and connected transport network to address the critical backlog of projects in outer Melbourne and supports many of Council s state road advocacy priorities. RACV stated that these projects will not only improve travel in outer Melbourne but will reduce congestion and benefit the environment through less emissions. Council notes that three years after the release of this report, many of the road improvements outlined are yet to be funded. RACV continues to advocate to the State Government to take immediate steps to fund the identified works. RACV also presented on the 2010 Redspot Survey that surveyed the public about areas on the road network that need improvement. The survey provides RACV Members and the public with an opportunity to improve the road and public transport networks by nominating congested road locations and public transport services. The 2010 survey listed Thompsons Road / Western Port Highway, one of Council s state road priorities, as number 7 in Melbourne. Brian Negus, General Manager Public Policy from RACV presented RACV s transport priorities for Melbourne. 11.

Outcomes from the Better Roads, Better Buses, Better Trains Forum SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE MANUFACTURER S ALLIANCE (SEMMA) The south east region of Melbourne produces 43 per cent of Victoria s total manufacturing output. SEMMA is an organisation comprising members of the manufacturing sector which addresses the lack of understanding of industry, especially within government. The alliance was created to co-operate with relevant organisations and proactively represent the issues and opportunities in south east Melbourne. At the forum SEMMA presented information on how significant the south east manufacturing area is. Industry is facing challenges with road and public transport in the region and support government investment in upgrades to road infrastructure and public transport services. Paul Dowling, Executive Officer from SEMMA presented road and transport challenges faced by the region s manufacturing industry. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT The Department of Transport s presentation referred to Casey s population increase and recognised future growth in the area. To address growth in this region, the Department of Transport outlined how the State Government is planning to respond through developing a number of strategies. Whilst these are important, Casey needs funding commitments now. 12. Damien Ferrie, Executive Director, Community and Place outlined Department of Transport s plans to improve the transport network in Casey.

VICROADS VicRoads presentation discussed significant growth forecast in Casey and highlighted the continuing trend of increased volumes on the Monash Freeway. VicRoads also presented on the high number of trips and journey to work trips within the south east region and the high reliance on cars for these trips. VicRoads congestion - road network map highlighted significant congestion across Melbourne. Council notes the most prominent congestion shown in the south is in the Thompsons Road corridor. VicRoads outlined how it was planning to meet the demand through various partnerships, planning studies, and planning strategies. Whilst these are important, Casey needs funding commitments now. Anita Curnow, VicRoads Manager Program Development, Metropolitan South East Region, presented on strategic road priorities in Casey. Council s investigation into the Victorian Auditor-General s Office report on Management of Major Road Projects in June 2011 identified an increase in capacity on the Monash Freeway after the opening of the Pakenham bypass in 2007 and the Hallam bypass in 2003. This report mentions that traffic forecasts for the Monash Freeway were significantly underestimated. It states that: over most of Pakenham Bypass s length, daily traffic in 2010 exceeded the 2011 forecasts by over 50 per cent and was close to the volumes expected in 2031 and that the Hallam Bypass s daily traffic in 2010 overshot the 2011 forecasts from 15 to 29 per cent for different sections. The Victorian Auditor-General s Office believes the consequences are serious and the decision to fund these schemes was based on an assumption that they would give sufficient capacity for the next 20 to 25 years. This report indicated that by 2010 this capacity had been used up. Source: Victorian Auditor-General s Report, Management of Major Road Projects, June 2010, p 9. 13.

Summary of what Casey needs now BETTER ROADS The City of Casey is requesting that the State Government improves state road infrastructure in order to accommodate the needs of a rapidly-growing population. Notorious and/or congested roads and intersections need to be duplicated or upgraded, and the Cranbourne Bypass remains a priority. The City of Casey believes urgent works are needed to improve the Monash Freeway and associated east-west traffic capacity to enable our residents to gain access to employment areas in the Dandenong and Monash corridors. Priorities include: Monash Freeway upgrades Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road duplication South Gippsland Highway / Evans Road intersection upgrade Thompsons Road / Western Port Highway intersection upgrade. Monash Freeway, Narre Warren BETTER BUSES The City of Casey is requesting that the State Government improves public transport infrastructure including increased frequency and coverage of bus services and coordinated train timetables. Priorities include: Bus services to every estate Buses linking to train timetables Frequent services operating every morning to late evening, seven days a week. BETTER TRAINS To make rail travel more attractive the City of Casey is requesting that the State Government provides funding commitments to: Upgrading and extending the Cranbourne railway line to Cranbourne East Increasing train services on the Dandenong, Pakenham and Cranbourne Lines Constructing 350 additional car parking spaces at Merinda Park station (project committed) and 100 additional car parking spaces at Narre Warren station. Constructing a road underpass at the railway line at Aylmer Road, Lynbrook 14. Bus service in Casey Thompsons Road, Cranbourne

More information COUNCIL S 2011-12 ADVOCACY PROGRAM While the City of Casey delivers more than 100 services to the community, one of the most fundamental roles of all Councils is to advocate on behalf of their communities for the improvements, services and funds they need, where these are the responsibility of the State and Federal Governments or other third parties. The City of Casey has affirmed its commitment to advocating on behalf of its residents through the Council Plan, its strategic planning document for the long-term future. Advocating for Casey focuses on how the City of Casey will promote and campaign to outside agencies in order to secure funding and partnership initiatives for the benefit of the community. The City of Casey is focusing its advocacy efforts on a number of key projects that, if successful, will make a significant difference to the quality of life of all Casey residents. For more information on Council s advocacy campaigns visit www.casey.vic.gov.au/advocacy CASEY CONVERSATIONS Casey Conversations is Council s dedicated community consultation website providing Casey residents with the opportunity to provide feedback on a range of issues important to the city. Council is encouraging residents to provide input on a number of key advocacy issues including improvements to the main road network and public transport in Casey. The aim of the Casey Conversations portal is for residents to ask questions, provide feedback to Council and talk to each other about local issues affecting Casey s future. Residents have the opportunity to give feedback so Council can advocate more effectively on behalf of the community to other levels of government which are responsible for delivering key services and infrastructure to the Casey community. To have your say visit Casey Conversations at www.caseyconversations.com.au, or, access the portal via the City of Casey website www.casey.vic.gov.au by clicking the Community Consultation Have Your Say icon on the home page. For further information telephone Council on 9705 5200. Monash Freeway, Berwick 15.

City of Casey PO Box 1000 Narre Warren VIC 3805 Telephone: (03) 9705 5200 TTY: (Telephone Typewriter) (03) 9705 5568 TIS: (Translating and Interpreting Service) 131 450 Email: caseycc@casey.vic.gov.au Website: www.casey.vic.gov.au Customer Service Centres Cranbourne Centro Cranbourne, High Street Narre Warren Magid Drive Narre Warren South Amberly Park Shopping Centre, Seebeck Drive December 2011 - Version 2