Greens MLC Colleen Hartland has promised to continue her campaign against new toll roads and road tunnels in the western suburbs, if they are announced by the Government next week.
"If the state government wants my open support, they can announce better public transport infrastructure. If they announce roads that will destroy the inner suburbs, I will do all I can to campaign against them."
"If Mr Brumby announces dirty great big roads and road tunnels in the west, he can expect nothing more than a relentless community campaign from the heart of the western suburbs, from the date of his announcement, until the day we win. I will campaign together with them, I will support them and I will speak for them in Parliament."
"If he's gutless enough to announce a road tunnel under Footscray and pretends there's no plan for elevated roads through people's houses, he won't be fooling anyone. The West Footscray and West Sunshine community know the extra traffic will mean that it's only a matter of time before the elevated road is announced. He'd be creating a missing link."
"We need infrastructure changes that will allow more trains on the Werribee, Williamstown and St Albans lines. We need an electric train line to Melton and Bacchus Marsh, with a new station at Caroline Springs, which is economically viable."*
"The Eddington Report recommends a rail line from Tarneit to Deer Park to take V-Line trains, but I've said from the word go that this needs to be an electric, suburban service. This is even more relevant now the government has announced more urban sprawl in exactly that area. I'm even prepared to give the government the benefit of the doubt on a rail tunnel from Footscray to Caulfield."
"If Mr Brumby announces these public transport infrastructure projects, I'll send him a herogram."
"But he has a choice. Road lobby or community campaigners. Better public transport or gridlock and pollution. Services in the western suburbs or a huge gamble on oil prices."
"The community spoke out in support of better public transport, and against the road proposals, during the Eddington process.** Next week we'll find out: is he with us, or against us?" said Colleen Hartland
Further comment: Colleen Hartland 9689 6373
* Interfleet Technology Report: http://www.electedgreensvictoria.org.au/campaign.php?campaignn=42 ** Report by Kate Wilson: http://www.electedgreensvictoria.org.au/mr.php?mr=531&filter=CH
