CONNECTING REGIONAL VICTORIA VICTORIA’S REGIONAL NETWORK DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1 Published by Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources 1 Spring Street Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Telephone (03) 9208 3799 May 2016 © Copyright State Government of Victoria 2016 This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Authorised by the Victorian Government, Melbourne. Printed by Impact Digital Designed by DEDJTR Design Studio ISBN 978-1-925466-80-5 (Print) ISBN 978-1-925466-81-2 (pdf/online) Disclaimer The information contained in this report is provided for general guidance and assistance only and is not intended as advice. You should make your own inquiries as to the appropriateness and suitability of the information provided. 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Accessibility This document is also available in PDF and accessible Word format at transport.vic.gov.au/rndp 2 Connecting Regional Victoria Regional Network Development Plan CONTENTS A MESSAGE FROM THE PREMIER AND THE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT 4 01 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6 REGIONAL NETWORK DEVELOPMENT PLAN FRAMEWORK 8 GETTING STARTED 11 02 RESPONDING TO CHANGE IN REGIONAL VICTORIA 12 REGIONAL VICTORIA – FUTURE POPULATION 13 03 LISTENING TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES 14 CONVERSATIONS IN NUMBERS 16 04 OUR REGIONAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT NETWORK 18 05 REGIONAL NETWORK DEVELOPMENT PLAN 22 STRATEGIC PRIORITY: BUILDING A BETTER PUBLIC TRANSPORT NETWORK 24 STRATEGIC PRIORITY: PUTTING PASSENGERS FIRST 30 STRATEGIC PRIORITY: DEVELOPING LOCAL TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS 34 06 REGIONAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT PRIORITIES 39 BARWON SOUTH WEST 40 GIPPSLAND 42 GRAMPIANS 44 HUME 46 LODDON MALLEE 48 07 NEXT STEPS 50 3 A MESSAGE FROM THE PREMIER AND THE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT Victoria is growing We’re pleased to present The plan trials a number Connecting Regional Victoria, of new approaches, such faster than Victoria’s first Regional Network as using school buses outside any other state. Development Plan. It is of school times to meet other Our regions are a statewide plan for regional local travel needs, increasing home to about public transport developed services to regional Victoria following an extensive in the peak, carrying bicycles one-quarter of conversation with people, on buses and operating new Victoria’s population businesses, local councils and services that cater for and play a vital role community organisations from seasonal demand at busy in our prosperity. across regional Victoria. times of the year. We have taken the bright We know that public transport ideas and valuable insights is important to our regional of thousands of people from communities because we both regional Victoria to lay out grew up relying on it to access a plan to improve public education, recreation, jobs transport services and and services. connections. The aim of the Regional Network Development Plan is to move away from ad hoc decisions and deliver a better coordinated and integrated public transport network, where train, bus and coach services work together to get people where they need to go. 4 Connecting Regional Victoria Regional Network Development Plan Thank you to all Victorians The Hon. Daniel Andrews MP who contributed to the plan’s Premier of Victoria development. This plan reflects The Hon. Jacinta Allan MP their commitment to better Minister for Public Transport connect their communities Minister for Major Projects and regions. We also thank the Regional Transport Advisory Group members, who provided an invaluable link between government and regional communities. We look forward to an ongoing discussion with communities across regional Victoria as we work to improve these important services. Planning for reliable, accessible and safe public transport services will help Victoria’s regions continue to thrive, while protecting the liveability of our marvellous regional towns and cities. 5 01 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Regional Network WHAT WE HEARD LINKING TO VICTORIA’S Development Plan REGIONAL STATEMENT guides the short, For the first time, regional medium and long communities have been The Victorian Government consulted on the current has released Victoria’s Regional term priorities needed and future public transport Statement, which highlights to modernise the needs of their region. Across the government’s commitment network with more regional Victoria, people told to rural and regional us they want more reliable and track, more trains, communities. The statement more frequent train services. outlines actions and better facilities, They want better connected investments focused on creating and more services. coaches and buses that arrive jobs, unlocking new investment and leave more frequently and ensuring a brighter future to the places they want to It sets out a medium to long for families and communities. go. They want innovative term plan to deliver a modern Improving regional transport solutions to transport, tailored commuter-style service for is a core focus of Victoria’s to the specific needs of their the growth areas of Geelong, Regional Statement. We want communities. They want Bendigo, Ballarat, Seymour to make sure that transport a modern regional transport and Traralgon, and service services match the changing network that gets them improvements to outer travel needs of regional centres where they need to go. regional areas. It outlines and towns. We want to reduce a pathway to deliver: The Victorian Government has travel times for freight and heard regional Victorians. The businesses, and make it easier • a commuter-style service result is a plan that balances for visitors to get to regional with a minimum 20 minute passenger, freight and business Victoria. The Regional Network train frequency in the peak travel needs with each region’s Development Plan supports • a 40 minute off-peak current circumstances and Victoria’s Regional Statement by frequency of services aspirations for the future. identifying actions to improve to Melbourne the public transport network. • five services, five days a week to the outer regional train lines of Warrnambool, Bairnsdale, Albury-Wodonga, Echuca, Swan Hill and Shepparton. 6 Connecting Regional Victoria Regional Network Development Plan CONNECTING • improve the experience of public transport passengers REGIONAL VICTORIA by setting a minimum level and quality of service The Regional Network • support the trial of innovative Development Plan’s purpose and more flexible transport is to deliver better connections services, and make better to regional centres, better use of existing assets and connections between centres infrastructure and Melbourne and make it easier for people to move • guide future planning for around regional Victoria and investment in the freight using public transport. and passenger rail network, with a focus on encouraging The plan responds to changing economic development and regional travel needs and job creation sets priorities for regional • support the growing regional public transport services, tourism industry infrastructure and investment. • give communities across The plan aims to: Victoria a say in planning • deliver a better public for future public transport transport network across services in their region. regional Victoria, with new The new plan for public connections, more trains, transport services in regional better stations and improved Victoria will ensure that, bus and coach services together with the road • develop tailored public network, people have access transport priorities and to a well functioning and actions for each region that complete transport network. respond to changing local travel needs and support local infrastructure and services plans 7 REGIONAL NETWORK DEVELOPMENT PLAN FRAMEWORK 1. REGIONAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT PRIORITIES • Barwon South West regional priorities • Gippsland regional priorities • Grampians regional priorities • Hume regional priorities • Loddon Mallee regional priorities 2. KEY PRINCIPLES • Passenger-first approach • Safe, efficient and reliable trips • Supporting social and economic inclusion through good local transport • Growing the regional transport network to meet demand • Connecting communities with opportunities for people to get to work, socialise and access services • Integrated regional public transport network • Efficient use of existing transport assets and resources 3. STRATEGIC NETWORK WIDE PRIORITIES Building a better Putting Developing local public transport network passengers first transport solutions • More trains • Better • Improving • Better station facilities passenger local transport information • Better bus and • Making new coach services • Better connections facilities and • Balancing future • Encouraging experiences freight and passenger active transport rail network • Making • Supporting transport • Simplified public tourism accessible transport fares and tickets 8 Connecting Regional Victoria Regional Network Development Plan 9 GRAMPIANS LODDON