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Why has it taken so long for ACT Labor to get the business case for a light rail system in Canberra together when submissions for the infrastructure Australia money were asked for at the beginning of the year? The Community Alliance Party thinks that a light rail system could be great for Canberra, as part of an integrated public transport solution. Norvan Vogt, Community Alliance Party Candidate for Molonglo says the Alliance is not into monument building.
"We'd look very carefully at the viability of a light rail system for Canberra. That said, our current transport arrangements, with minimal bus services and car-centred planning has got to change in a fundamental way if Canberra is to remain a great place to live," says Mr Vogt. Integrating a system that is based around people’s actual movements, which also has the flexibility to adapt to changes in those movements, is just so important. "We have the ability to do it right if we take the political compromises out of the equation and focus on a good outcome. Good public transport can really add to peoples quality of life, but bad public transport is a misery for users," he says. "We just can't figure out why it has taken so long for this to get support from either of the two major parties.” In 2001 the Stanhope Labor government said that they would do a business case. Seven years later, the contract to prepare a business case for light rail was awarded to Price Waterhouse Coopers. "Canberrans are absolutely entitled to demand that our public transport systems are done on time and done right the first time (unlike the GDE project) and in a way that will enhance the quality of life for everyone who lives here," says Mr Vogt. "Of course, if the Community Alliance is part of a future ACT government then we will make sure that any new system is exactly what Canberra needs, by combining the best of expert advice with community consultation." Norvan Vogt: "We also think that any new projects for Canberra should consider using Australian solutions. Foreign is not better, as anyone who has ridden on the appalling new European-built C and D class trams in Melbourne will attest." Contact: Norvan Vogt |
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The Community Alliance Party is a dynamic alliance of ACT residents, community groups, and business people. We are seeking to establish balanced government and to make our Capital a better and more affordable place to live. We will achieve this through:
