Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has called for the development of a single coordinated body to be responsible for delivering
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has called for the development of a single coordinated body to be responsible for delivering an integrated transport plan for Sydney.
Speaking at the City Talk public lecture featuring former Lord Mayor of London Ken Livingstone on Wednesday (September 16), Moore told a capacity crowd at the New South Wales State Theatre reform was needed.
“There are too many government agencies involved, often with competing priorities and agendas.
“For every proposal the city currently negotiates separately with numerous departments and agencies, we negotiate with the RTA, the STA, the Ministry for Transport, the Taxi Council, the Police, RailCorp, private light rail, bus operators, Bike New South Wales, the Pedestrian Council, Infrastructure Australia, the Department of Planning, the Waterloo Authority and Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority amongst others.
“So you can understand why we’re always at meetings.”
The Sustainable Sydney 2030 plan will see the development of a framework to encourage a shift away from the reliance on cars as a primary source of transport.
Moore cites road changes, traffic calming, promoting car share and pedestrian activity and better public transport as incentives to shift passengers out of their cars.
“This is a necessary response,” she says. “It’s not a desirable response; it’s a necessary response to both climate change and people impacts.
“We need to achieve a significant modal shift in travel patterns to transform Sydney into the successful green city of the future that we must become.
“We’re taking every opportunity in Sydney to progress, and we need State and Federal Government participation and support and funding.
“A connected network of public transport includes bus interchange, light rail, heavy rail, and metro street walks.”
Moore says preparation for the construction of CBD metro stations could be an opportunity to fast track some of the Sustainable Sydney 2030 projects, including the new Sydney Square in front of Town Hall.
“Long queues of buses could be removed from the CBD and George Street is included in plans to extend the current light rail route,” she says.
“I believe this is an ideal opportunity for an outcomes-based agreement between local, state and federal government, based on the successful Vancouver model.
“The city is working with the state on a joint-funding submission to the federal government for a new light rail route between the central and Green Square, enabling interchange with other transport groups.”