Rod Barton MP believes the report recently released by the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO), that examines Victoria’s integrated transport planning shows the Department of Transport (DoT) in a new light.

The audit report found that the documents provided by the DoT that were meant to provide a view of their transport plan, fails to meet legislative requirements. In fact, they found a transport plan, absent.

Barton believes this lack of transparency is not good enough. Most of the documents referred to by the DoT are not publicly available nor accessible to other agencies or stakeholders.

With so many projects underway, it is damning that there is such little short or long-term planning to integrate services, engage with the community and achieve integrated decision making.

Barton believes this lack of transport planning is evident in the Eastern Metropolitan Region, where projects are being pushed through with no genuine efforts for community consultation.

Constantly constituents are contacting his office regarding a complete lack of community consultation for projects such as the North East Link, the Hurstbridge line duplication and the roundabout on Eltham Road.

Barton believes without stakeholder consultation at the centre of transport planning, these projects will fail to truly meet the needs of the community.

 Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Metropolitan and the Leader of the Transport Matters Party Rod Barton MP:

“Communities are key stakeholders. They want to be involved in the projects, they do bring skills and they can contribute to better outcomes.”

“The report indicates a serious need for more processes that engage in genuine, transparent and constructive community consultation. We cannot continue to be sidelined.”

ENDS

Media contact: Norm Dunn, Chief of Staff Rod Barton MP, 0438 175 113 Norm.dunn@parliament.vic.gov.au