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3 AUGUST, 2022
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Plan to boost bus routes By Matthew Sims
A library filled with odd things
Modelling for a proposed new bus network in Melbourne’s west has indicated the number of people able to access buses could increase by fourfold or more, according to a briefing paper released by Melbourne University. Within the spatial modelling software, in weekday peak periods, the population able to reach their nearest activity centres within 30 minutes on the enhanced network increased by between 18 per cent for Williamstown and 1155 per cent for Hoppers Crossing, with increases for evenings and Sunday mornings even greater, according to the briefing paper. Melbourne School of Design public transport network planning lecturer and the paper’s co-author Iain Lawrie said the research had discovered “amazing” improvements to accessibility to bus networks, especially considering that an average of 1.3 per cent of western region respondents in the 2016 Census indicated buses were their main mode of transportation to and from their workplace. “Buses have an incredibly low mode share,” he said. Using spatial modelling software, the Melbourne Centre for Cities paper has proposed a ‘clean-slate’ bus network comprising of 25 new frequent route corridors. “By adopting established public transport planning principles, the ‘clean-slate’ network achieves a staggering improvement in network accessibility at a viable capital and recurrent cost,” the report read. Mr Lawrie said the proposed system highlighted a significant improvement with buses travelling quicker across the west by keeping to arterial roads and being prioritised at traffic lights. “We are getting two, three or four the number of people that are able to be reached,” he said. “It’s not a pie in the sky idea. “It’s just a question of political will.” Mr Lawrie also co-authored a briefing paper on the challenges surrounding the transition to an electric bus fleet. He said that the current contracting arrangements would need to be amended before a full rollout occurred. The report highlighted that fragmented asset ownership and assumptions within the current contract structure was “broadly incompatible” with a smooth transition to zero emission bus technology.
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Benish Chaudhry with some of the items people can borrow. (Joe Mastroianni). 291439_02 12557818-HC29-22
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You won’t find shelves stocked with books at Point Cook’s new Library of Things, instead you can pick up items like a step ladder, a glue gun, and a wheelchair. “It’s exactly the same concept as a regular library except that they are … useful household items that you can lend for a period of two weeks, and just return it,” library founder Benish Chaudhry said. “We thought it would be a good idea … a lot of people are doing it a bit tough financially, so we thought we should establish it.” Ms Chaudhry is hopeful the initiative will help people to reduce waste. “Like Christmas lights, you don’t need Christmas lights all the time, similarly, lawn mowers and gardening equipment,” she said. “You don’t have to buy things every time you need something, you can just borrow it.” The Point Cook Library of Things is at the Jamieson Way Community Centre, and membership fees are $50 for a year, $30 for six months and $20 for a one-off borrow.
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