Call to overhaul public transport
A transport masterplan, including a rail extension to Aldinga and better bus-train connections, is urgently needed to help reduce the south’s carbon footprint, community health researcher Gwyn Jolley says.
Ms Jolley, who chairs non-government organisation Healthy Cities Onkaparinga (HCO), said making public transport more accessible to all residents was a key environmental factor.
“There’s big growth forecast for the Onkaparinga Council area about 20,000 people over the next 20 years,” Ms Jolley, who is based at Flinders University, said.
“If we keep putting money into roads, rather than improving our public transport network, we’re going to be encouraging all those extra people to drive around in their cars.
“The area is growing and changing so quickly there’s definitely some urgency to this plan.”
She said the train line to Aldinga, more bus services and improving the connections between buses and trains were high priorities for any masterplan, which would need State and Federal support.
Forums: Discuss the future of Adelaide’s rail network
HCO, supported by the Southern Adelaide Regional Transport Advisory Group (SARTAG), the Friends of Sully’s and the Seaford District Residents Association (SDRA), will host a forum next month to gauge community concerns with public transport.
SARTAG chair Margaret Staples, who has been involved with local transport issues for 20 years, said she wanted a solid commitment that the rail corridor to Aldinga would definitely go ahead. “Getting the train to Aldinga is our biggest concern at the moment, given the growth in the outer southern suburbs,” she said.
“The whole point in reducing greenhouse gas emissions is to get cars off the roads but in some areas people have no other option.”
Ms Staples said more “feeder buses” were needed to connect with trains and extra bus services in Happy Valley, Aberfoyle Park, Flagstaff Hill, Aldinga and Sellicks Beach. “It’s easy to get to town from those Hills areas but going to McLaren Vale or to Marion is the problem so people just use their cars.”
Friends of Sully’s chairman Bob Dyer said residents in O’Sullivan Beach were often forced to use their cars or were left stranded at home, with no bus services on Sundays or public holidays, and weeknight services finished at 7pm.
In an emailed statement, Transport Department spokeswoman Bobbie-Jean Stevens said recommendations for the rail corridor to Aldinga were scheduled for mid-2010.
The Transport in the South community forum will be held in the Civic Centre of the council’s Noarlunga office, Hannah Rd, Noarlunga Centre on Wednesday, July 7 from 5pm to 7pm. Bookings: 8201 7860 or vanessa.swinney@health.sa.gov.au by June 30
via Messenger News
