Merri-bek Council is refreshing it’s Integrated Transport Strategy and has put out a discussion paper inviting comment, and has conducted community pop-up engagements at shopping centres around the municipality. You can follow the engagement process at Conversations Merri-bek: Moving Around Merri-bek.

To address the climate and other environmental crises, we need to urgently shift to more sustainable forms of transport – principally public transport and active transport. Merri-bek Council has long been regarded as a leading Council in sustainability. We trust that in the sustainable transport space, Merri-bek will continue to play a leading role in setting the standard for other Councils to follow.

In our submission, we address some of our thoughts on this discussion paper, and look forward to providing a detailed submission on the draft Transport Strategy. Our issues are discussed under the following headings:

• An Engaged Community
• “Mode Shift” not just “Increasing Transport Choice”
• Transport policies should not be based on irrational fears
• Integrating Land Use and Transport Planning
• Electric Transport Growth
• Walking as transport mode is significantly under-reported
• Transport and Cost of Living
• The Six Themes

Our full submission is below:

Background:

• In April 2019 we did a Submission on Draft Moreland Pedestrian and Cycling Strategy
• Climate Action Merribek contributed to the development of the Moreland Integrated Transport Strategy in 2018. See September 2018: Submission: Moreland Integrated Transport Strategy
• During 2018 as a group we formulated a policy document on transport addressing Local Government, State and Federal Government action required: Transport Policy in Moreland for the Climate Emergency
• See also our Sustainable Transport Campaign page