Meeting was opened by Richard Campbell, new Manager for Access Transport for Blacktown City Council, who says Council is conscious with demographic expansion between Blacktown to Mount Druitt and is working on behalf of Council for making sure the integration and between all public transport stake holders ensure that proper public transport is provide with support within our Local Government Area.
Next guest was newly elected Councillor Chris Quilkey (on behalf of the Mayor), has been handing out flyers at train stations within Ward 1, was a member of a Transport Union and is an Owner of a taxi. He would like to see smooth operations with public transport and for further infrastructure and have taxis on the agenda. With a population of 350,000 population and 169 languages with Blacktown Local Government Area 77% use private cars, 4 percent buses, 4 percent trains and their is no figures on taxis. In relation to train and buses patronage, we are below the Sydney average. This may be due to lack of car park facilities, limited Public Transport services servicing required distances, lack of disability services at Root Hill, Doonside and Toongabbie train stations. Our Local Government area has a population larger than Tasmania and yet they have 12 elected Federal Senators.
Then, there was guest speaker, Richard West from NSW Transport - North West Transport Sydney Metro Click here for details
In relation to the Northwest rail link with ends in the only trans station of Blacktown Local Government area of Cudgegong Train Station, still under construction and will extend to new trains stations at Victoria Cross, Barangaroo and Waterloo, continuing on to Bankstown Train Station.
The news was Cudgegong train station was nearly completed and Rouse hill to have a temporary commuter Car Park and Kellyville (elevated train station to have 1360 commuter car parks spaces).
This is where we seem to be lacking in Mount Druitt, with car park spaces for commuters - we have 220 car spaces at the actual Mount Druitt Commuter Car Park and 150 car spaces alongside mount Druitt train station in North Parade. That is 370 car spaces.
Although, in the well prepared showcase from Mr. West, there was no discussion on taxi ranks and was questioned on ensuring enough spacing for mobility taxis enabling enough space for drop and pick up points (as raised by a member or two of the audience).
I raised questions of why not spend funds on duplicating the dual rail carriageway lines from St Marys to Emu Plains, thus allowing more rail traffic to flow through and also duplicate the single rail carriageway line between Schofields to Riverstone and I would even suggest further right through to Richmond. I also asked questions on the route using North West Rail Link via Schofields, Ropes Crossing and Through St Marys to the new Western Sydney International Airport. I really got no positive feed back on this topic, it seemed to fly over their head. He was only interest in this North West Sydney Metro.
Questions were raised about disability car spaces - and he advise 3% of car spaces is being compliant.
Then we had next guest Andrew Degen, from MSW Transport on NSW Direct Access Program for train stations/commuter car parks upgrades. Since 2011 NSW Government has allocated $770M for Sydney Train s from 2001 for 4 years and since 2015 $890M has been allocated for the next 4 years.
Station upgrades are prioritised by demographics and patronage figures: 10 new train station interchanges, 4 new commuter car parks with 1200 car spots with bike sheds.
With commuter car parks they look at traffic flows around the area and look at seeing why growth is in free commuter car park? Instead of shoppers using free commuter car park whilst shopping and not using any form of public transport, when only commuters should be using it. Once are free commuter car parks are built, after one week they find they find they are fully utilised. Doonside train station upgrade is in the NSW Transport Ministers Office for approval. Rooty Hill has already been approved and in Mount Druitt Bike sheds have been approved.
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| Mount Druitt Commuter Car Park |
The Opal Card used at boom gate idea, will prevent people abusing the commuter car park. Maybe if it is found that the car parked in the commuter park, doesn't used any form of public transport, then parking fees would be charged.
Last speaker was Brendan from NSW for Transport Buses claims that they are in line in using the NSW Transport Long Term Master Plan 2030 and Blacktown Integrated Transport Master Plan, looking to provide bus services in growth areas. Rapid bus and feeder programs will alleviate bus congestion, enable to catch other buses and trains.
In NSW Bus Region 1 since 2011 - 30 new buses services and over 2,000 new bus trips per week. Enhance buses services are 611 Blacktown to Macquarie Park, 700, 740, 751, 752 & 774.
He also announced minor bus services changes on 749, 750,751,754,756, 758 & 771.
Services must the needs of community through customer feed back, patronage data, NSW Transport Data, land use planning, roads suitability, timing considerations, finally available funds and resources.
Comments and questions I raised, were to agree with Councillor Quilkey with using Opal Card for entrance and exit of Commuter Car Parks.
Questioned why Maps have been taken out of Bus Time Tables at Mount Druitt Bus Interchange time tables? We do have people coming to the area and they may not know which way the route(s) are going.
Asked about the Rooty Hill Station upgrade wasn't mentioned - it was announced by NSW Government before and also asked of the the upgrade of Mount Druitt Train Station as it needs to be widened to cater for peak times where it takes more than 10 minutes to reach barriers at present.
There was talk about we need more car spaces, I actually stated that the issue is not more commuter car spaces, I stated that NSW for Transport should promoted more bus service and a higher frequency of bus services and you will will not need commuter car parks. With that I suggested a promotion of catch buses, will actually make commuters leaves cars at home.
This is important when in Mount Druitt we are having car parking issues as previously mentioned in previous posts and now we have 370 free commuter car parking spaces - not all used by commuters and in Westfield, they have had commuters using free parking in their car park.
It was also mentioned that no maps on new bus time tables stands at Mount Druitt Bus Interchnage, as previously supplied.
Residents of Colebee were complaining about nearest bus stop not being 400metres for them is 750 metres and they have to walk to Dean Park to get to better service - about 1km walk.
There will be documented and noted and seen by all public transport stake holders and hopefully, they will one day listen and make these important changes.
I can also see that after the meeting the new Manager at Blacktown City Council agrees with myself with the duplication of lines from Penrith to Emu Plains. When you get one person agree in authority, that makes it that much easier to promote.
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