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RESIDENTS RESPOND TO 'MISGUIDED' LABEL
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Conservation Council Says "No"
Please email your contributions to: bus@australiamail.com
Residents opposed to the expansion of the Leichhardt Bus Depot are puzzled by calls from Allan Miles of Action for Public Transport (APT) that the bus depot be retained and expanded.
In response to Mr Miles' comments, residents' spokeperson Tim Stackpool said, "We fully support the responsible advancement of public transport in this area. However, an expanded Leichhardt bus depot is not responsible. It would put more bus movements wedged in between a school playing field and a proposed medium density housing development. Instead, let's re-position the depot to a more appropriate location and extend the light rail service."
A report by Leichhardt Council by their stategic planner, Mr Glenn Snow indicates that an extension to the light rail service towards Norton Street would improve light rail patronage, but that an expanded bus depot would "dismiss future light rail services".
Mr Snow's report continues "The IMPROC Region Transport Study has identified that the CBD can not cope with an increase in bus numbers and that alternative non-road based transport is required...Therefore the provision of more bus services through an expanded depot may not be appropriate, as it is arguable that performance is not going to improve."
"For that reason alone" commented Mr Stackpool, "Action for Public Transport should be lobbying for better alternatives to the city bus crush, rather than compounding it."
When questioned over Mr Miles' public comment that the safety of local children will not be compromised by more bus movements because "they should be able to look after themselves", Mr Stackpool replied, "I'll be sure to pass on Mr Miles' comments to the parents of the the first kid who is seriously injured as a result of the increased heavy traffic"
Leichhardt Council has moved a motion against further development of the Leichhardt Bus Depot until a masterplan for the entire site is determined and submissions from the public have been received. Residents' protest against any further development of the depot is expected to continue. (END)
Release by Better Urban Solutions (BUS - Residents group)
More info: http://www.betterurbansolutions.com
