Sustain Transport recently held a forum in Lismore where regional transport stakeholders met with members of the NSW Long Term Transport Master Plan to discuss some key transport issues for the Northern Rivers region.

Stakeholder workshops during the forum identified these issues:

• The Transport Master Plan (TMP) should have a funding allocation for regional data collection. Need to start collecting regional data now ahead of the 2013 regional plan rollouts.
• The TMP must incorporate the needs of the most transport disadvantaged groups in regional communities, for example Aboriginal communities and young people.
• Use of mobility management and transport coordination technologies to ensure that new and existing transport services are coordinated with the needs of existing and potential passengers.
• Transport Master Plan needs to look at the impacts of current NSW transport policies on regional transport.
• Need to consider the effects of school bus routes and school bus subsidies on reducing incentives for transport providers to develop innovative and flexible passenger services.
• Transport options and concessions for young people, esp. public transport dependent young people, should be a priority.
• The regional plans should include a specific commitment to resources ie. budgets and $$.
• Need a strong voice for Aboriginal people in the top level of planning for the TMP (eg. NSW Aboriginal Transport Network).
• TMP should acknowledge the existing defined corridors in this region that are based on patterns of settlement and identify what services are needed within these corridors to connect the region; eg. flexible, integrated micro-transit systems that connect people and services with local mass public transport.
• Issues of ‘state significance’ should include interstate connectivity eg. cross border issues. Consider involvement of the cross border Commissioner in the TMP.

Sustain Transport is a working group of the Sustain Northern Rivers collaboration, and is convened by the Northern Rivers Social Development Council. Contact Kate or Linda on 02 66201800 for more information.