Annual Report of
Mount Druitt Commuters Improvement Group Inc.
2011-2012
The
Inaugural Meeting of the Mount Druitt Commuters Improvement
Group was held on the 19th
February 2011, 10.30am – 12.30 pm at the Emerton Leisure Centre.
The meeting
was opened by Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson; the room was filled with
enthusiastic members and visitors to the group. The following were
elected to the MDCIG Committee:
President: John Svoboda
Vice-President:
Angela Plows,
Hon.
Secretary: Wayne Lu
Hon.
Treasurer: Allan Bourman
Publicity
Officer: Debbie Robertson.
Our Goals:
We are a local transport group interested in representing all suburbs of
Mount Druitt, with the goal of being involved in getting improved Transport
services, and infrastructure with buses, trains, taxis,
cycling, and
walking in our local area.
We will lobby
Blacktown City
Council, Councillors,
Transport Officers, and elected NSW Minister for Transport, and support from all areas to reach community goals.
We invite all and any local interested
commuters to bring their ideas and goals, working for
a better Mount Druitt Transport community.
Our Vision:
We are a
local Transport advocacy Group, representing the community for the ultimate benefit of
the Mount Druitt community and surrounding suburbs.
We will work together with all transport stake
holders, in resolving issues and providing solutions to improve current public
transport services, and infrastructure. For the ultimate benefit of the Mount Druitt
Community.
Committee
In its early stages we ran without having a monthly Committee Meeting. Angela
Plows asked for the start of Committee Meeting, they started in August/ September 2011.
The Hon. Secretary position has been vacated since the
resignation of Wayne Lu at our Meeting of 17th December
2011.
Vice President, Angela Plows has been appointed
Acting Secretary until the 2012 Annual General Election,
and has been working hard to collate all Meeting Minutes, Attendance/Apologies,
Agendas, and correspondence, into files, and folders for the group to view, and
reference.
Finances
Allan
Bourman put to the group about a gold coin donation to raise funds for the groups
expenses, and has since
been in place with a $2.00 contribution at each meeting.
A Westpac Bank Account "Mount Druitt Commuters
Improvement Group", with Allan Bourman, Wayne Lu & John Svoboda to be signatories on a new account. Mr.
Bourman opened the account, but due to only one signatory on the account was
closed in September 2011 by the bank.
On assistance of Vice President, Acting Secretary
Angela Plows to open the Bank Account, the Mount Druitt Commuters Group decided the new signatories on the
account will be Angela
Plows, Debbie Robertson, and Allan Bourman.
On the 21 April, at the meeting, the MDCIGI group was advised that the bank
account was opened on 5 April 2012 finally and, cheque books issued a
few days later.
Membership
On 19th
February 2011, we had signed up 15 total members, by the end of the year we had
increased our membership to 19 members.
So far by
this year 2012 we have had 14 members resigned. With the rising membership, our
group has been creating community common interest with other public transport
community groups.
Western Sydney Public Transport Users
Inc.
Angela
Plows and John Svoboda, and an alternate member of our group
(on each occasion) have represented our group, as part of the umbrella group, Western Sydney Public Transport
Users Inc. Policy Committee. Group member representatives have provided strong
input into policy and ideas at WSPTU Policy Committees and the WSPTU Transport
Symposium.
Policies and Goals
Our true
primary policies and goals are to seek, promote, and lobby for public transport
improvements, so that as there is a substantial growing trend to get
people to use the transport system. It needs to be an affordable, reliable, and a safe public transport system, so
private cars are left at
home, so causing less congestion of the main roads, highways, and motorways.
John Svoboda compiled a submission on behalf
of our group. His submission to the NSW
Long Term Transport Master Plan, as submitted:
- Full return of Busways 755 bus service to be returned from Mount Druitt to
Blacktown prior to bus review change of 2009. Every second bus service went
to Plumpton following through to Dean Park and then to Blacktown -
here is Busways response to me - they are trying to move more people west
when leaving people behind who want to go east of Mount Druitt for eg;
Blacktown http://mountdruittcommuters.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/busways-do-not-want-to-provide-further.html Busways claims that commuters should take 2 bus services not one
to Blacktown - do you think this is right?
· Full return of Busways 762 bus service from Mount Druitt to
Chestnut Crescent
Bidwill. Prior to reviewed
and elimination of
service which was connecting people in the north
of Mount
Druitt. In Easter there is 4 days in
a row no bus services as
they are based on Sunday time table services.
· Full return of Westbus 766/769 replacing
current Westbus 674
bus along the west of Mount Druitt - not the shopper hopper
service we have patronage has dramatically increased.
· We need
bus services in very early mornings on weekends and
late nights to cater
for getting to State Government Sunday
Fun Days, shift workers getting to work and families
meeting families and having
correct accessible transport.
· We need Blacktown City Council to ensure
that NSW For
transport - provides a high level of protection of policing on
bus stops,
interchanges, bus, trains and taxis and doesn't
ignore this factor based on this area of
Blacktown City Council
being a low socio-economic area.This protection is provided
directly for the safety of commuters and transport officers.
· We require policing of smokers in non-smoking areas and
alcoholic areas for example; bus interchanges, taxi stands,
train, stations and cycle ways, even if it is through Council
rangers (this especially affects the
lives of non-smokers) and
has been neglected for years.
· NSW for Transport Follow up with Blacktown City Council to
the
acceptance of a Mount Druitt free bus shuttle confirmed by
Rudi
Svarc, Blacktown City Council that Council has placed a
recommendation to the Minister of
Transport at the Blacktown
· Since at the same Blacktown City Council Transport Forum
where patronage
has increased in Region 1 for buses - has
our transport
services catered for this increase of 6.5% and
further increases.
- Follow up of request to have bus shuttles from all train stations within
Blacktown LGA to take to Moreau reserve, Rooty Hill for the
Rooty Hill firework - this alleviates traffic congestion. Approved by Mayor and other
councillors. Other Council's in Western Sydney do it and other community, sporting and Blacktown
City Council events.
- Due to noticeable increase of population since 2009 to 2012 in
Mount Druitt, transport services should not go backwards and
have services removed or cutting services as more people are commuting on public
transport inclusive of bus services – thus moving forward more services should be provide to the
demands of our increasing population, as there is a need for it.
- Ropes Crossing has there solution for bus service but this is not
acceptable as this proposal is negatively affecting Willmot.
- Bus
services should not be removed due to rock-throwing, missile throwing or any
other anti-social issues - other preventative
measures should be used to ensure continuing services and essential bus services should be
returned back prior to bus review 2009 except for Willmot. Refer to our blog: http://mountdruittcommuters.blogspot.com.au
- We need bus services meeting
community links in one bus service not 2 of them for example some community members can only travel
to St Marys Swimming pool as opposed to 2 buses services to Emerton (much closer).
- Support for the North West rail link
to continue under Schofields, Marsden Park and loop into St Marys.
- Construction of Dual Carriageway from
St Marys to Penrith and also a third extra platform at Emu Plains, for terminating trains.
- Instead of three different time tables for bus and trains, one time table to cover seven days a week – this will make all commuters
aware of when their services arrive and leave, provide better weekend and late night services
which shift workers to reach shift work, unemployed commuters a better chance of reach job
interviews in weekends, families to reach promotional places for ‘Sunday Fun days’, commuters
to reach other families and friends, and also commuters to do their shopping
chores and return.
- · On
Bus Stops, and Interchanges (where there is multiple bus services listed) colour-coded
Bus stop Numbers for time tables to make
it easier to understand and comprehend.
- Busways 758 loop to the Masterplan
as that service is every 15mins, early mornings, late night, and a good weekend service. That
way most of Shalvey will get a bus back.
- · The Myzone tickets supported excepted
where Western Sydney Commuters have to pay for 3 zones when travelling into more than
one or two zones – Zone 1 commuters only pay for correct zoning.
- · Electronic signage at train stations
and bus interchanges to indicate when services will depart.
- Also audio information on train,
stations.
- Promotion of bus stop number as per NSW for Transport. Website 131500 also refer to
the story on our blog:http://mountdruittcommuters.blogspot.com.au/2011/02/i-know-my-bus-stop-number-do-you-know_21.html
(No editing has been made to this Submission Angela
Plows Vice President, Acting Secretary).
2nd May 2012
Additional Issues Dealing With
- ·
Buses at Mt Druitt do not drive over the pavement in bus bays in Mount Druitt bus
interchange – which has caused an accident to
a commuter while departing. Other Bus bays in
Western Sydney are not ‘angled, set down and pick up bus stops.’
- ·
More accessible bus stops
and buses compliant to the Disability Discrimination Act 1992
- ·
Split level interchange & car park plan by Peter Kerr
Meeting Venues
We have
moved from the Emerton Leisure Centre to the West Trades Club in Dharruk, from
approximately mid last year and we are thankful for the clubs services provided
to us free of charge.
2nd Annual Greater Western Sydney ‘Zest’ Awards
We had 4
nominations as follows:
Community
Leader – Volunteer – John Svoboda
‘Out of the
Box’ – Wayne Lu
Youth Leader
– Blake Bardowski
Volunteer
Group – Mount Druitt Commuters Improvement Group
Journalism –
Kylie Stevens St. Marys- Mount Druitt
Star
Journalism –
Susan Lui – Mount Druitt-St Marys Standard
The
successful one was Blake Bardowski, who won the highly recommended Award. This is a reflection on his individual
efforts in planning, and mapping bus routes for the community. Last year he spent one week work experience with Westbus
Parramatta.
With our BlogSpot,
we have had 644 blogs, 31,329 hits and 46 comments (on blogs) up until the end
of March 2012. So the website seems to be a great place to educate people in
and around Mount Druitt, and keeps them in touch with our local transport issues. NSW
for Transport, Blacktown City Council Officers, Bus operators, City Rail staff, and Local media newspapers pick up
stories, and commuters take great interest in the stories. The facts and suggestions
help keep the community involved in transport issues, for better
Transport Services in the Mt Druitt Area.
Annual
Financial/ Balance Sheet 19/2/2011 - 31/3/2012
INCOME
|
$
|
EXPENSES
|
$
|
|
|
Golden
Coins
|
329.55
|
Rent
|
39.00
|
|
|
Membership
|
79.00
|
Stamps (Allan)
|
31.35
|
|
|
Misc
Income
|
59.00
|
Miscellaneous
|
11.00
|
|
|
|
|
Incorporation Costs
|
158.00
|
|
|
|
|
Admin Costs
|
166.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
62.20
|
|
|
Total
|
$467.55
|
|
467.55
|
|
|
Signed by
Hon. Treasurer: Beresford Bourman _____________________ Dated________________
What I omitted from this years report is the great support we had from Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson, in getting concrete slabs done on bus stops, correct bus shelters on bus stops and other issues that need to be resolved through Blacktown City Council.
Also to the former Senior Transport officer Stephen Briant and to Nirab Rijal who have and are currently supporting our group. Also that has made a possible result to our group, local NSW State members of parliament that have an interest in our group as well!
Karim also understands surveys should be conducted to see if there would be other potential public transport commuters that require the same type of bus service as he does in his area. Then if the response is good then recommendations to Transport for New South Wales for the require bus service should be implemented.
