(No.5) ` 2013 PARLIAMENT OF TASMANIA LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE ‘B’ REPORT ON THE OPTIONS FOR AN INTEGRATED SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN SOUTHERN TASMANIA Members of the Committee: Hon Adriana Taylor MLC (Inquiry Chair) Hon Vanessa Goodwin MLC Hon Tony Mulder MLC (Deputy Inquiry Chair) Hon Craig Farrell MLC Hon Tania Rattray MLC Hon Rob Valentine MLC Contents INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 4 FINDINGS ................................................................................................................ 10 The Current Public Transport System .........................................................................10 Public Transport Policy ...............................................................................................12 Future Options for an Integrated Public Transport Model ...........................................14 Light Rail .....................................................................................................................14 Ferry Services .............................................................................................................16 Cycling and Walkways ................................................................................................16 RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................ 18 Public Transport Strategy............................................................................................18 Buses ..........................................................................................................................19 Light Rail .....................................................................................................................19 Ferry Services .............................................................................................................20 Cycling and Walking ...................................................................................................20 THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN SOUTHERN TASMANIA......................... 21 Metro Tasmania ..........................................................................................................21 Privately-Operated Public Bus Services......................................................................28 STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK ON THE CURRENT SYSTEM .................................. 31 Regionalised Issues by Local Government Area ........................................................36 PUBLIC TRANSPORT STRATEGY IN SOUTHERN TASMANIA ............................ 45 PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEMS IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS ............................. 53 Brisbane ......................................................................................................................53 Adelaide ......................................................................................................................57 Perth ...........................................................................................................................58 Wellington, New Zealand ............................................................................................60 FUTURE PUBLIC TRANSPORT OPTIONS ............................................................. 62 2 Alternative Operating Models for Buses ......................................................................62 The Role of Community Transport ..............................................................................65 The Northern Suburbs Rail Corridor ...........................................................................67 Passenger Rail – A Northern Suburbs Light Rail Service ........................................72 Rail Services in Wellington New Zealand ................................................................99 Professional Opinions on the Rail Corridor and the Business Case ......................103 Infrastructure Australia Funding Submissions for Rail ...........................................117 The Alternate use of the Rail Corridor for a Busway .............................................122 Passenger Ferries on the River Derwent ..................................................................128 New Ferry Proposals .............................................................................................129 Brisbane Ferry Services ........................................................................................140 Wellington Ferry Services ......................................................................................142 Cycling and Walking .................................................................................................145 APPENDIX A - WITNESSES ................................................................................. 153 APPENDIX B - SUBMISSIONS .............................................................................. 156 APPENDIX C ............................................................................................................... SUMMARY OF AUCKLAND PUBLIC TRANSPORT VISIT .................................... 159 3 INTRODUCTION 1. Government Administration Committee “B” (the Committee) was established by resolution of the Legislative Council and its operation is governed by Sessional Orders agreed to by the Council. 2. By resolution of 20 June 2012, the Committee resolved to establish an inquiry with the following terms of reference. To inquire into and report upon options for an integrated sustainable public transport system in Southern Tasmania, with particular reference to – (1) the public bus transport system currently operated by Metro Tasmania; and (2) Any other appropriate and innovative transport systems 3. As the terms of reference focused on public transport options in Southern Tasmania only, the majority of the northern based Members of Committee B did not to participate in the inquiry and were substituted by southern based Members of the Legislative Council. The Committee substitutions were as follows. The Hon. Craig Farrell MLC substituted for Hon Kerry Finch MLC; Hon Rob Valentine MLC substituted for Hon Mike Gaffney MLC; Hon Vanessa Goodwin MLC substituted for Hon Ivan Dean MLC. 4. The Hon Greg Hall MLC was granted leave from the Committee for the purposes of the inquiry. 5. Prior to the commencement of the inquiry, a range of concerns had been raised periodically with Committee Members in relation to the services provided by Metro Tasmania (Metro) in Southern Tasmania and with the broader public transport system. 6. The concerns included issues in relation to timetabling and passenger information, infrastructure, the network, frequency and integration between the different public transport operators and at times were made in comparative terms with the public transport services in other cities in Australia. 4 7. Also consistent amongst the concerns raised was the view that Metro’s services were not necessarily operating in accordance the needs of its broad customer base, that the services were considered a barrier to usage for some potential patrons and that passenger growth was being impacted upon as a result of these and other factors. 8. There was also concern about whether the operating model of Metro Tasmania (operating as a Government Business Enterprise) was the most cost effective model available for the Tasmanian Government to operate public transport services whilst supporting additional public transport initiatives. 9. Members of the Committee had also noted the various community led proposals that had been put forward for the expansion of public transport services is Southern Tasmania. In general terms, the Committee had noted that advocates for public transport reform were generally unhappy with the level of engagement by Government. 10. Proposals had included a rail service using the existing and soon to be decommissioned rail corridor from the city through the northern suburbs of Hobart (known as the Hobart Northern Suburbs Railway) and a commuter ferry service to major points on the eastern and western shores of the River Derwent. 11. There was a general frustration amongst the proponents of public transport initiatives in that they believed there was a lack of Government interest, coordination or support for the expansion of the public transport network in Southern Tasmania and that consideration of new projects was generally limited to road and rail freight initiatives. 12. Most notable amongst the range of challenges cited was I. the lack of subsidisation to support a sustainable trial of ferry services the lack of a clear Government position on the future use of the northern suburbs rail corridor once freight operations ceased (including the use of the Bridgewater bridge as part of a future rail network); II. the northern light rail business case assessment process; III. the lack of coordination amongst key stakeholders in relation to public transport planning and decision making; 5 IV. the absence of strategic land use planning and the lack of current disincentives for commuter car use within the Greater Hobart region in comparison with other major population centres in Australia. 13. At the commencement of the inquiry, the Committee was concerned by what appeared to be the lack of a cohesive Tasmanian public transport policy that would help guide proponents in the first instance as to the Government’s vision and priorities on public transport policy. 14. The Committee noted that