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Urban Taskforce | Media Releases
New transport agencies welcome, but extra money still crucial
15 July 2011
The restructure of the NSW governments transport agencies is a welcome step, but new transport plans will mean little unless theyre backed by the extra funding that comes from strong population growth, according to the Urban Taskforce.
The Taskforces chief executive, Aaron Gadiel, said the logic behind the new governments move was overwhelming.
Its amazing that it has taken so many years to get to this point, Mr Gadiel said.
Mr Gadiel said the creation of a single agency, Transport for NSW, to carry out the governments long-term planning and major procurement, is clearly a commonsense move.
Of course, integrated planning will mean nothing unless there is funding to translate plans into reality, he said.
Thats going to require strong population and jobs growth - something that NSW currently lacks.
Its also going to depend on Federal Government financial support for Sydneys urban transport needs.
Mr Gadiel said the focus on freight and regional development was also important.
The movement of freight is part of the lifeblood of our cities, he said.
The efficient passage of freight is crucial for both businesses who dispatch and receive it - and households who require consumer goods and jobs.
Much of the debate on urban transport focuses on public transport alone, without also considering the new roads that are essential to keep freight freely moving.
As most businesses cannot be located at the end of a rail line, roads play a key role in any freight movement system.
The new, integrated, high level focus on freight provides an opportunity for these issues to be better considered by government.
Mr Gadiel said the new agency arrangements would have to prove themselves to the whole community.
The next step will be to put the right people into key leadership positions, give them the funding and political support they need and to produce robust plans that deliver for NSW.
The Urban Taskforce is a property development industry group, representing Australias most prominent property developers and equity financiers.
