Bayside Council plan to improve local transport

Bayside Council has released a new Action Plan to create a more reliable transport system in Sydney’s Southeast.

Residents have been asked to give feedback to help create a sustainable and dependable system that supports active, healthy lifestyles. Council’s vision is to upgrade the current network to provide residents access to the city in 30 minutes, and 10-minute walkable neighbourhoods.

The p lan ha s been met with widespread support from the community, particularly in the suburb of Botany. One local resident commented that “transport to the city is dire from Botany”, another calling it “abysmal”.

A sing le bus formerly serviced commuters, which would directly take passengers from Botany to the city, terminating at Circular Quay. All services from the suburb now terminate at Redfern or Railway Square. As a result, residents are now forced to take a minimum of two separate buses to the city centre. It has been labelled a “disgrace” as surrounding western suburbs have faster commutes to the city, despite being Botany being less than 10km away.

Labo ur Councillor Jo Jansyn says that many of these changes were as a result of the current Liberal State Government changing and privatising local bus routes, despite strong opposition from local Members of Parliament, Michael Daley and Ron Hoenig.

Bayside Councils’ Draft Transport Strategy and Bike Plan is hoped to provide an ‘Action Plan’ to guide the “infrastructure planning, policy development and advocacy for transport related issues in Bayside.” Currently open for consultation, Bayside hopes after a review period where contributions are evaluated and reviewed, a Final Action Plan will be adopted by Council that addresses residents’ main concerns.

Many concer ns are centred around access to local services. One resident detailed how there was “no viable option” for the elderly other than to risk driving to shopping, medical appointments, and recreational activities due to frequent bus service changes and long travel times.

Another resident commenting that it is “very draining.”

In Brighton, resi dents are calling for a 24/7 clearway along the Grand Parade in the hope of reducing traffic congestion in peak periods.

The Action Pla n will a lso address the key focus areas of road safety, considerations of future transporting services including car-share and electric vehicles, encouraging active transport such as walking and cycling, improving public transport access and car parking, and ensuring that freight and major road networks are efficient.

For more information or if you would like to provide feedback, residents are urged to visit Bayside Council’s website https://www.bayside.nsw.gov.au/

Hannah McKinney