$5 billion public transport gauntlet thrown to Victorian Government after expansion of urban boundary
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The Victorian Council of Social Service has thrown down a $5 billion gauntlet to the Victorian Government and opposition to match their enthusiasm for the expansion of Melbourne’s urban growth boundary with an unprecedented investment in public transport infrastructure across the city’s outer limits.
Chief Executive of VCOSS Cath Smith said, “We expect the Government to use the billons raised in tax revenue from the sale of land in the capital’s newly expanded urban growth boundary to fuel a massive roll out of new public transport infrastructure like trains and buses to ensure these new communities are not disadvantaged, or excluded from accessing services and participating in community life.”
The call comes after today’s announcement reported in The Age that the Victorian Government and opposition have struck a deal to increase Melbourne’s urban area by 43,600 hectares to deliver 134,000 new homes.
Cath Smith said VCOSS was opposed to the expansion of the urban growth boundary in favour of increased urban density and inclusionary zoning where people from different social backgrounds can live alongside each other as neighbours. But now that it had been pushed through the Parliament it expected the Victorian Government invest up to $5 billion in public transport infrastructure in Melbourne’s outer fringes.
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contact John Kelly – M: 0425 701 080Follow the conversation at www.twitter.com/vcoss
VCOSS
Level 8, 128 Exhibition Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
T: 03 9654 5050 F: 03 9654 5749 W: vcoss@vcoss.org.au E: vcoss@vcoss.org.au