Presented by Robert Clark MP		www.robertclark.net

No "kerb access" tram stops in Boroondara under Liberals

News Release - Wednesday, 11 October 2006

There will be no "kerb access" tram stops installed in Boroondara under a Liberal Government, Shadow Minister for Transport, Terry Mulder, said today.

Joined by the Member for Box Hill, Robert Clark, and the Member for Kew, Andrew McIntosh, Mr Mulder gave this commitment during a visit to Balwyn shopping centre to view the effect that kerb access stops would have.

"These stops extend the kerb out towards the middle of the road, forcing traffic down to one lane in each direction.

"If these stops were built from Surrey Hills through to Kew, as the government has put forward, they would make Whitehorse Road and Cotham Road virtually unusable in peak period traffic.

"Traffic gets heavy enough already during peak periods. It would put enormous pressure on the entire road network in the area if Whitehorse Road were repeatedly narrowed down to one lane.

"Motorists would attempt to divert to other roads in the area like Belmore Road, Mont Albert Road, High Street, Canterbury Road and Barkers Road, slowing those roads down even further.

"The Liberal Party supports effective and reliable public transport, but you don't improve public transport by making life a misery for motorists."

Member for Box Hill, Robert Clark, said the community has heard nothing but months of silence from the Bracks Government about tram stop changes on Route 109, despite extensive advertising and requests for community feedback last year.

"Last year's community consultation made clear the community does not want "kerb access" stops, and even VicRoads acknowledged this in their final report," Mr Clark said.

"However, there has been no word from the Government on its next move. Route 109 wasn't even mentioned in the Government's transport statement in April.

"I fear that this silence means the Labor Party still plans to install kerb access stops if re-elected in November.

"One of these stops would be right at the entrance to Balwyn shopping centre, between Yerrin Street and Iramoo Street, restricting car parking, deterring shoppers and making it even harder for through traffic to travel through the shopping centre."

Member for Kew, Andrew McIntosh, said that kerb access stops would choke Kew Junction and force traffic to duck and weave along Cotham Road.

"First we've had Labor imposing high rise, high density developments, then selling out the community over public assets such as Kew Cottages. Now they are threatening to dramatically increase traffic bottlenecks and rat runs, destroying our easy access to the city," Mr McIntosh said.