Eddington report has little cheer for DoncasterThursday, April 03, 2008 The long awaited transport report chaired by Sir Rod Eddington effectively slams the door on any hopes of a rail link to Doncaster by the Labor Government, says the Member for Doncaster, Mary Wooldridge. The report makes it clear it does not believe the Government should invest in the infrastructure to provide a rail link to the city. “It appears that more tolls, more taxes and more traffic will be our fate.” The report Investing in Transport, recommends public transport to Doncaster would be best provided by implementing a significantly enhanced Doncaster Area Rapid Transport (DART) bus upgrade. “While I welcome any move to upgrade our bus services, the $80 million DART project is not due to start till 2009-10, 18 months away. “The Eddington Report says the DART upgrade should be “introduced as soon as possible”, and I agree. Our bus services are currently chronically overcrowded and DART must be immediately bought forward. “The Government must also invest the extra $200 million recommended in the Eddington Report to genuinely improve our bus network. “Doncaster residents deserve better then our current inferior service. The Government must make the full $300 million investment recommended, so we do genuinely have a “state-of-the-art public transport service to the central city that is as fast, comfortable and reliable as a fixed rail service”.” Ms Wooldridge said she was also concerned that there was no end in sight for commuters who face daily traffic snarls on the Eastern Freeway. While the report has proposed a tunnel at the end of the freeway to the west it is still to win the Government’s approval, may require tolls or an increase in taxes and would be many years away from construction. “The tunnel will be a real test of John Brumby’s leadership and whether he governs for all Victorians or if he caves in to the concerns of a small number Labor MPs in inner city seats. “This Government has been in power for eight years but is still failing to come to grips with the transport challenges in Doncaster. It is time that the Government listened to the community and its’ own advisors and makes the necessary investment to ensure a decent transport network for Doncaster residents,” Ms Wooldridge said.
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