Getting around Yarra Ranges shouldn't be hard.
Yet for many people in our community, limited public transport options make everyday activities more challenging than they should be.
We consistently hear from residents that transport is a key issue. Yarra Ranges has some of the highest car dependence in metropolitan Melbourne, with more than 90 per cent of residents commuting to work by car, compared to 68 per cent in Greater Melbourne.
Only 41 per cent of our households are within walking distance of public transport, compared with 74 per cent across Greater Melbourne.
Yarra Ranges Mayor, Cr Richard Higgins, said this distance makes it harder for people to access the community.
"For many people, this makes it harder to get to work, school and limits access to health services, particularly for young people, older residents and those on lower incomes," he said.
"It also adds pressure to our roads, increases emissions and can leave people feeling isolated. For some people, particularly older adults and people with disabilities, lack of good public transport can mean they cannot access their communities.
"These challenges are set to grow as areas including Lilydale, Mooroolbark and Chirnside Park continue to develop, with more than 20,000 new residents expected by 2041. Without improvements to public transport, congestion and accessibility issues will worsen."
Cr Higgins said that in regions of the Yarra Ranges, such as the Dandenongs and the Upper Yarra area, bus services don't connect well, are infrequent and miss crucial areas.
"Better bus services would also support tourists and visitors to our area to access our major attractions without travelling by car," Cr Higgins said.
"While public transport planning and funding sit with the Victorian Government, Yarra Ranges Council plays an important role in advocating for better outcomes on behalf of the community.
"Council is calling on the Victorian Government to prioritise funding and review key transport projects that improve connectivity, safety and service reliability across the region."
These projects include improvements to bus services, including better connections to trains and between key townships, increasing service frequency and hours, and expanding on-demand services.
"We're also advocating for the duplication of the Lilydale rail line and for major upgrades to the Belgrave Station. Together, these projects will help create a more connected and sustainable transport network for Yarra Ranges," Cr Higgins said.
"As we approach the Victorian State Election, Council is outlining its key advocacy priorities on behalf of the Yarra Ranges community."
Visit yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Our-Council/Advocacy to learn more about the issues Councilis advocating for, why they matter, and how you can add your voice.
