By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
GEELONG’S Moorabool St bus interchanges could move depending on the outcome of a new transport strategy.
A City of Greater Geelong spokesperson said regional council alliance body G21’s transport strategy would include public feedback on issues such as the interchange location.
AECOM, a consultant behind a recent report on high-speed rail for Australia’s east coast, is conducting the $100,000 study.
The Independent reported last month that Mayor Keith Fagg had suggested the interchange could move due to perceptions of safety risks in central Geelong. City traders have complained about anti-social behaviour around the interchanges and consequent lost trade.
G21 acting chief executive officer David Findlayson said the strategy would take a range of factors into account, including expert advice.
The strategy was a big-picture planning document taking a regional perspective on individual municipal transport needs, he said.
“The Geelong region is growing reasonably rapidly, as the recent regional growth plan indicates, and the strategy is needed to ensure there are adequate public transport links.
“The strategy aims to determine what the public transport needs will be and the most-appropriate modes of transport to service those needs.”
Mr Findlayson said the plan would also consider improvements to the existing transport system.
“Public transport cannot be one-size-fits-all for a region as diverse as ours but we’re going into this with an open mind,” he said.
“We want to hear from the community about what they think the needs in the way of public transport are.”
Public Transport Users’ Association Geelong convener Paul Westcott defended the interchanges, saying their return to Moorabool St had proven critics wrong.
“We’re strongly in favour of retaining the interchanges and even extending them further south,” Mr Westcott said.
“To the extent there is a perception of safety, it has more to do with the mall rather than the bus interchange.”
Mr Westcott said Geelong faces a challenge seeking improvements in its public transport system.
“Fewer people are using public transport to get to work today than 10 years ago, while in other areas public transport is booming,” Mr Westcott said.
“It’s not rocket science – we need improvements in frequency and more direct routes.
