The Nature Conservation Council of NSW urges the Federal Government to direct NSW to spend a substantial share of its Infrastructure Australia payments on improving the state’s ageing public transport infrastructure.
“Carbon emissions from Australia’s transport sector are a major contributor to climate change and they continue to grow due in large part to private vehicle use,” Cate Faehrmann, executive director of the Nature Conservation Council of NSW said today.
“Increasing public transport use is a powerful strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, yet little has been done by Government to put the brakes on the nation’s car-reliance and promote more sustainable alternatives.
“The Nature Conservation Council calls on the Federal Government to move away from a transport infrastructure approach heavily biased towards roads and do more to get people out of their cars. The $20 billion Infrastructure Australia Fund provides a significant opportunity for national investment in creating world-class public transport systems and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“Long-weekend travel will again exasperate the traffic gridlock and insufficient train and bus services experienced around the country every day. Congested roads, high petrol prices and carbon awareness are creating a growing public desire to leave their cars at home and take public transport.
“The Government must now invest in the infrastructure to harness this good will and provide efficient and practical sustainable transport systems,” Ms Faehrmann said.
