The University of Melbourne’s Centre for the Governance and Management of Urban Transport (GAMUT) will explore the key issues relating
The University of Melbourne’s Centre for the Governance and Management of Urban Transport (GAMUT) will explore the key issues relating to Australia’s transport infrastructure and related governance at a free public forum on Friday.
The forum, Good Governance for Transport Infrastructure will continue GAMUT’s contribution to the national transport debate on infrastructure by identifying key issues and needs, providing a critique of current practices, and considering ideas for improving governance.
Professor Bill Russell, Co-Director of GAMUT says the forum will provide the centre with an opportunity to gather information from an array of perspectives.
“Major infrastructure projects and coherent transport and planning strategies are difficult to set up. Managing these projects in a context of climate change, oil scarcity and population growth is critical,” Russell says.
“This event will take the debate on governance and transport infrastructure forward on neutral ground, and offers an opportunity to explore a range of perspectives on better governance. That the forum is being networked across Australia and outside to other parties is proof of the intrinsic importance of such a debate.
“Infrastructure investments, especially in transport, are contentious, difficult and lead to great community stresses and expenditures. Good governance is the key to mediating these stresses and achieving effective results, and we want the community to have their input on it.”
Gamut was founded by Volvo Research and Educational Foundation (VREF) to address Governance issues in urban transport- this subject is rarely discussed by active participants.
It is one of Australia’s peak bodies for commentary on urban transport issues.
“The issues we are tackling at the forum have been raised in response to the ongoing national initiatives currently under way for investment in transport infrastructure, the impending national action on climate change, and, in Victoria, the publication of the Eddington Report,” Russell says.