Report 1-55 - Inter-regional Public Transport

INTER-REGIONAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTTHE ROLE OF INTER-REGIONAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN REGIONAL NSWLand use around public transport hubs2.56 Stakeholders raised the issue of land use and how strategic planning can increasethe uptake of inter-regional public transport among regional communities.2.57 The submission from the Planning Institute of Australia (NSW Division) assertedthat an effective public transport system should ideally serve customers wherethey live, work, study and play. On this basis, the organisation suggested thatland should be strategically utilised to provide sufficient potential patronage forpublic transport services, that is concentrated and within easy access to thoseservices. 482.58 In terms of regional NSW communities, the Planning Institute of Australia statedthat this objective would be achieved by encouraging land use density aroundpublic transport hubs. More specifically, local governments and regional councilsshould be required to explicitly address issues of land use density and utilisationof public transport when formulating planning and development schemes. 492.59 In a similar vein, Shoalhaven City Council supported improved integration ofpublic transport services and infrastructure with strategic land use planning as akey component of effective regional planning and improved overall delivery ofpublic transport outcomes. 50Committee comment2.60 There is potentially much to be gained from the targeted integration of land useand public transport planning, both in terms of increasing patronage of interregionalpublic transport and improving services to regional communities.2.61 In particular, the Committee sees merit in the proposition that land use densityaround public transport hubs should be encouraged as a means of achievingthese objectives. The Committee notes that transport and land use planning isaddressed extensively in the Transport Master Plan. Accordingly, the Committeemakes no recommendation in relation to this issue.THE ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN IMPROVING INTER-REGIONAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT2.62 A number of inquiry stakeholders made comments in relation to the role of localgovernments in advocating for the transport needs of the regions andcommunities that they represent, as well as the ways in which they mightcontribute to improving the inter-regional public transport network in the future.2.63 The submission from Central Coast Regional Organisation of Councils summarisedthe role of local governments and regional organisations of councils as identifyingopportunities for improvement, developing strategies to increase the uptake of48 Submission 57, Planning Institute of Australia, p 1.49 Submission 57, Planning Institute of Australia, p 3.50 Submission 37, Shoalhaven City Council, p 1.MARCH 2014 19