Retiring from Blacktown City Council Public Transport Forum

This morning, I thought hard about this and I feel that I have to let go of things in life I was passionate about as I  have taken volunteering roles in different areas. Here is my retirement email from the Blacktown City Council Public Tranport Forum 2019:

Good Morning Keiasha,

I understand that I have accepted invitation to the Transport Forum to be held today.

I have been a member of this Forum since 2010 and have attended these important forums, representing communities and report through 'whyilovemountdruitt', 'Save Our Bus Services", "Mount Druitt & Surrounding suburbs" & " Mount Druitt Commuters Improvement Group Inc" Blogspot and Face Book Pages. The reason I did this was we lost 3 bus services in 2009 and retained 2 of them in 2010. I was asked to lead a community group for one bus service but then discovered that there were other services being lost in the area. It seemed that Council had none or little  power to get the buses back as I discovered, they  are pretty much an advisory of public Transport around the area.

I was the founding Chair of both' Save our Buses, Mount Druitt and Surrounding Suburbs and 'Mount Druitt Commuters Improvement Group Inc and held position of secretary - I resigned in 2013 as I was not allowed to write posts on blogspot (without groups permission) on commending Hon. Richard Amery's eervice in State Government as he retired as well as issues with current Chair expecting more than I could do as Secretary.

I attended a Sydney Alliance Meeting in Bowman Hall attended by over 300 people, explaining how we all got  2 bus services back in Mount Druitt. I was pleased that when we got the full 755 bus service back that the front page of the local news paper in 2010 that it wasn't about myself - it was about the people of Mount Druitt getting back services that should not have been taken away. I was told by a former local  Labor Party Branch Member that - Once services are taken away - 'you will never get them back again'. 

It was pleasing to Know that The Then NSW Minister of Transport met with six of our groups representatives as they all had an opportunity to present our case and when the Federal Member of Chifley, Ed Husic invited myself and members of group for a cup of tea/morning tea chat. I could not attend as I had working obligations and when I was informed that The Hon. Member really only wanted to speak with 'me' not the ladies - that was very surprising to me! 

We lobbied hard for a free bus service looping around Mount Druitt with the help of a young Blake Bardowski - approved by Council at a time the NSW Government was removing many Free Bus Shuttle Services from different regions. I nominated Blake for the inaugural Ed Husic's Chifley Awards and  blowing me out  of shape - he won it. I remember his mother was so ecstatic. We were nominated as a  community group in the inaugural Western Sydney

'Zest' Community Awards and Blake also won a prize as an young individual, as well.

I was secretary of Western Sydney Public Transport Users Group, until I resigned and was a strong participant in the NSW Public Transport Review for 2030 and one of two  people that made presentations to the Council's Transport Policy.

I later turned as a community advocate ranging from holes in the ground, streets and eventually traffic light improvements on Luxford Road entrance to Westfield, Mount Druitt - this was a giant step in saving pedestrian lives.

I must Thank Blacktown City Council Media Unit in providing media releases to myself, to inform the community through social media. I think I have the record for Blacktown City Council Australia Day videos on You Tube (each year).

So, I have come to the conclusion that as I am retired and not residing in the Blacktown LGA area ( Yet I still have real interests in the area), I tender my resignation from the Council'd Transport Forum as of toda. I Thank Council's Trasnport Officers and Media Unit for their support. Further Thanks goes to former  Mayor, Stephen Bali, Tiny Beasedale and all current and former Councillors that I have spoken to as well as State members for Mount Druitt, Hon.

Edmond Atalla, Hon Member for Londonderry, Pru Car,= all past and current members of the Mount Druitt Commuters Improvement Group INc and  most importantly to all Members of the Mount Druitt and wider community.

You may wish to keep me posted on all annual events, post each Transport event- Wishing Blacktown City Council a great success as it because a greater City.

Cheers

John Svoboda,jp

Blacktown City Council - 2018 Transport Forum Video

Here is the released Blacktown City Council Transport Forum held on the 29th November 2018 and also the published post on the full event. Go out there to promote this video as this shows Blacktown City Council's new direction in  promoting the even and the Q & A style that was used.

By the way, you recognise a few community members during the video.

Click here for Blacktown City Council 2018 Transport Forum Video



Click here for previous post on Blacktown City Council 2018 Transport Fourm

2018 Transport Forum - Blacktown City Council

I have been invited to a forum hosted by Blacktown City Council. The forum aims to identify and highlight the key transport needs and challenges facing residents and businesses in Western Sydney, and in particular, Blacktown City.

The ABC's Brigid Glanville and a panel of distinguished experts will lead discussion and debate covering all local and regional transport issues. I will be representing our community (as well as others), on improvement of Public Transport within Mount Druitt and surrounding areas. If anyone has a question, please notify myself on nsjpas@gmail.com.I will be providing a feedback report as I always  have done in the past few years. Watch out on this blog for further updates.

One Feed Back On Blacktown City Council Public Transport Forum Number 41

One of the things I wanted to comment on the recent  Blacktown City Transport Public Transport Forum Number 41 is that we didn't have time to discuss  cycle ways or shared cycle ways and I do think we need to include Taxis.

In the six years prior to this one, Cycle ways has been included. Maybe  one way of looking at this there is only a two hour window of opportunity to discuss public transport annually is to expand it to three hours providing a break in the middle.

In saying that there was a  great idea that  probably wasn't promoted by  Blacktown City Council  Transport Division  and that there was an overall update on Bike Plan and Integrated Transport Management Plan. This was terrific, as the 2 page flyer is something we can keep and be proud of.

Here it is:

 



Click here for previous post

Overcrowding Trains Admitted By NSW Government - NEW Services Missing Mount Druitt - Channel 9

Well it is good for the NSW Government to realize we are reaching in over capacity of over crowding trains, especially in peak hours.
This i has been reported to be in  many posts over the years, including overcrowding on train stations and vestibule areas,

So, is the NSW Government wanting to increase rail services but only from City to  Parramatta and miss the west and south west? That is what it sounds like. We applaud increase in rail services but we need  public transport funds to be spent in the right direction. 

Attending a  Blacktown City Council  Public Transport Forum number 41, I have year after year explaining that if money was spent to duplicate rail lines from St Marys to Emu Plains, there is that provision of allowing more trains and carriages to enter and  leave the NSW Sydney Trains network system. But we seem to want to clog up the rail network  first, before we think of the bigger picture.

So to announce further public transport train services is good, but to announce further public trains services but not to expand rail lines and not to duplicate lines is ridiculous. Especially, when this serves aas a more important role in  providing more efficient and reliable trains services.

The Channel news video reports on the struggle commuters face  currently on overcrowding but doesn't  touch on the necessity of   expanding current lines as previously discussed.


Blacktown City Council report on Public Transport Forum Number 41

Click for Channel Nine News Video