Podcasts about western distributor

Emily Sims is joined by Crystal Legacy (Melb Uni, Dept of Planning) and Nathan Pittman (Planning PhD candidate) to discuss the machinations behind the Western Distributor tunnel. After years of strategic planning, some challenging outcomes eventuate. Where to for strategic thinking? Karl finishes with insights on the tendering process for these multi-billion projects. Show notes

A refreshing change - my colleague Emily Sims hosts this week’s show. Dr Sophie Stirrup (Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University & former Dept of Treasury) provides an insiders account to Victoria’s early 90s privatisation agenda. From this we hear about the formative days of Transurban, the risks behind the CityLink tollway and set the reasoning for the new Western Distributor infrastructure spend. Show notes

Later this year the Victoria Government will open the $18 million 1.7-kilometre “missing link” in the bike network between the Darebin Creek and Yarra trails. There is good but is there room for improvement. Just because it is to do with active transport have we really maximised the benefits for as many users as possible. Alan Davies is a prolific writer on urban transport issues and can be found in Crikey media as “The Urbanist” He joins us on the line now. Is it for bikes or is it a shared path with pedestrians. A fast track for bikes often means a long travel distance. This is designed like an old style freeway Focus on fitness – means speed and effort Not a direct route Cycling fundamentalists Weakest link But the bigger problem is it requires pedestrians and cyclists to use the four-lane bridge over Darebin Creek on Heidelberg Rd. Elevated veloway the government plans to build over Footscray Road from the Maribyrnong River to Moonee Ponds Creek. It will hang underneath the elevated Western Distributor and give cyclists a dedicated facility separate from vehicles and pedestrians Call me cynical, but I suspect a key motivation for this project is to mitigate criticism of the Western Distributor.

Christine Harris of Spotswood South Kingsville Residents Group reports on the community forum on April 27 about demanding a review of TransUrban's  'unsolicited proposal' for the Western Distributor that will lock in the west to trucks on local roads and tolls. Community groups across Melbourne are vigorously protesting the propspect of the mega freeway tunnel project which has no strategic planning basis. Public Transport guru John McPherson talks about the effects of the Victorian government's big budget injection into public transport, mostly tram and train services, but not too much for bus travellers to get excited about.  

On today's program Chris talks to Senator Janet Rice about recent leadership shuffles in Canberra, a new Minister for Cities, Greg Hunt trying to reheat East West Link, the Western Distributor and the launch of a Bike Black spot app and Bike Meet up this Saturday 17 October in Carlton North. Local news includes a short Melbourne Brompton Urban Challenge recap, news about an amendment passed at last weeks Yarra Council meeting to get the Wellington St seperated lanes finished and Yarra Ride to Work Breakfasts. Other news includes one-metre passing laws in South Australia, Australia Post launching new stamps with Australian-designed bicycles, "Grinding to a halt: rethink needed on Australian urban transport" report from Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA), parts of Yarra Trail closed for maintenance near Cremorne Rail bridge, a petition to Build a Bridge over Merri Creek between Ceres and Beavers Road and VicRoads Community information sessions on Chandler Highway in Fairfield/Kew. Keep up to date for more upcoming events at yarrabug.org/events 

Two interviews on this weeks show, first up Chris chats to Cat and Sid from Wrenchworthy Bicycle Shed at their launch and fundraising tea party, a new group for a bike maintenance/mechanics space that's located at HOP Community Centre, for women, non-binary and gender diverse people. Wrenchworthys goal is to create a space that is welcoming and useful to people who are often made to feel uncomfortable or unwelcome in the masculine, male-dominated cycling culture. Second interview is with Alison Clarke during Public Transport Not Traffic's walking tour of the proposed Western Distributor route in Yarraville, discussing issues surrounding decision-making processes about planning for megaprojects, transport priorities and Melbournes continuing car-dependence. Local news includes City of Yarra Grants Program and Projector Bikes upcoming Fitzroy Edition of their Friday night ride this Friday 29 May, starting at Edinburgh Gardens.