TOLL roads, ports and “intelligent transport” were the themes as six local councils went on a study tour of Melbourne recently.
The South West Group of councils visited the Port of Melbourne (which is due to be privatised), Fisherman’s Bend and the VicRoads office to learn about transport solutions.
“The tour’s purpose is to look at best practice across Australia, and to give the board first-hand knowledge of good work around issues that are relevant to us in the south west metropolitan area of Perth”, says Mick McCarthy, South West Group director.
Reduced crashes
Fremantle port’s privatisation, the Perth Freight Link, and planned intelligent transport systems (ITS) on Kwinana Freeway were some of the local issues in focus this year.
South West Group chair Brad Pettitt found the tour thought-provoking and says there were valuable lessons to be learned from Victoria.
“WA has some catching up to do in our thinking and delivery of transport solutions”, Dr Pettitt said.
A report on the tour released this week found that ITS is well entrenched on the east coast and showing benefits.
VicRoads, which is planning a major expansion of its system, says where it’s been employed, crashes have been reduced by 50 per cent.
By collecting a range of data on traffic conditions, varying speed limits and co-ordinating on-ramps to fit in with the flow of freeways – amongst other measures – VicRoads says drivers are going slower, but conversely getting to their destination faster because there’s less stop-start.
The tour’s report also praised toll roads for helping ease congestion and “aligning costs with road user funding”.
Not everyone was impressed by the tour: Melville councillor Nicholas Pazolli described it as an annual junket, and Mark McLerie of the Melville residents and ratepayers association had concerns about its financial transparency.
Mr McLerie doubted the $1500 per delegate Melville chipped in would cover the three-day tour, saying the real cost was hidden by the fact the council’s annual $80,000 payment to the South West Group would have also paid for the journey.
He says the public was kept in the dark about the tour’s destination and objectives for too long.
“I take great offence when you ask a direct question, where did the tour go, and you don’t get an answer,” Mr McLerie said.
“They should be able to say this is what we went to get done”
Mr McCarthy denied anything was hidden, saying everything was available in the group’s agendas and minutes.
When did the Local Councils take on the mandate to manage the port and the State’s transport system? Surely getting a few experts in from the Department of Transport, Main Roads and Fremantle Ports would have sufficed vs spending $>20,000 of residents and ratepayers money sending a gaggle of 15+ people on a junket over east? It is interesting to note that the tour report does not state who actually went on tour; though it is understood that the norm is at least 3 people from each Council + The South West Group Director making a total of 19 people at least 1,500 to 2,000 per head for a three day tour. Seems excessive. No wonder our rates are rising if this is just one example of the Council’s financial discipline. See our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MelvilleResidentsRatepayersAssoc/