-----Original Message-----
From: Roderick Smith [mailto:rodsmith@werple.net.au]
Sent: Thursday, 23 March 2017 10:55 AM
To: 'transportdownunder@yahoogroups.com'
Subject: snippets, Thurs.23.3.17

Attached:
170323Th Melbourne 'Herald Sun':
- pedestrian congestion at Melbourne SC.
- Yarra boat racing & Z tram.

Roderick

Terry McCrann: Daniel Andrews told 6 million to get stuffed Herald Sun March
20, 2017. with tdu
<www.heraldsun.com.au/business/terry-mccrann/terry-mccrann-daniel-andrews-to
ld-6-million-to-get-stuffed/news-story/57aeb60932de0e64ab1d7ac579444daf>

March 22 2017 Sydney man Sam Le awarded $3000 over four-minute false
imprisonment .
A Sydney man has been awarded $3000 for being stopped by police for four
minutes at Liverpool train station, after a court ruled this amounted to
false imprisonment.
Sam Le, 24, was approached by two police officers in January last year and
asked to produce his Opal card and pensioner concession card, along with
photo identification.
Sydney man awarded $3000 for false imprisonment.
A court has awarded a Sydney man $3000 for being stopped by police for four
minutes at Liverpool train station.
One of the officers told the District Court he suspected Mr Le may have
stolen the concession card because he appeared "young and fit" and was
"evasive" when asked to hand over his Opal card.
In an exchange captured by Mr Le on his mobile phone, the officer called him
a "smart arse" and asked if he "had a problem listening".
Sam Le began filming when police demanded to see his concession card. Photo:
Sam Le .
He was told he was not under arrest but was "not leaving" until the officers
had verified his identity.
"So this officer is now demanding ... my driver's licence when I'm not even
in a car," Mr Le said in the video.
"Yeah, put it onto whatever social media you want. Be a hero," the officer
replied, after Mr Le said the officer was refusing to tell him his first
name.
After four minutes and 15 seconds waiting on the platform while police
conducted a radio check, Mr Le was told he was "free to go".
Police conducted a radio check of Mr Le's details. Photo: Sam Le .
Mr Le sued the state of NSW in the District Court for false imprisonment
and won.
Judge Matthew Dicker said the police officer had an "honest suspicion" the
concession card may have been stolen but this was based on "tenuous" rather
than "reasonable" grounds.
Mr Le's apparent youth was "not a fact which could reasonably ground a
suspicion that the concession card may have been stolen" and he did not act
evasively, Judge Dicker said.
He said police did not have the power to demand commuters hand over more
than their Opal card and concession card, unless they did not have their
concession card with them and had other "relevant evidence" to support their
entitlement to the concession.
Mr Le gave evidence in court he was on a disability pension.
Judge Dicker said there was "no conscious wrongdoing" by the police and
their evidence was truthful, although it was "not appropriate" to call Mr Le
a "smart arse".
In contrast, he rejected some of Mr Le's evidence and said "some caution
should be exercised" in accepting it without "independent evidence".
But he said false imprisonment had been established and awarded Mr Le $3201
in damages including interest.
Judge Dicker said physical constraint or force "does not have to be proved"
and Mr Le had established he was "imprisoned through being detained".
In calculating damages he took into account the "very short period" of
detention, along with the fact Mr Le was "not manhandled ... or handcuffed"
or put in a police cell or van.
Mr Le's lawyer, Andrea Turner, said commuters were unaware of their legal
rights and were handing over their drivers' licences to police "without
anything being suspicious about their concession card and nothing suspicious
about their Opal card".
Mr Le said he brought the case because he wanted to "send a message to the
police force that they can't just approach someone and demand their personal
identification ... when a person has not committed any offence".
"There's no reason for police to approach me demanding my ID [to] do further
checks on me," he said.
A NSW police spokesman said they were "currently reviewing the decision of
the court".
It is the second time Mr Le has sued the state over an incident with police.
A 2015 case was settled out of court.
He denied in court that he said to the police officer involved in the
earlier incident "thanks for the holiday" and he had "lots of money" as a
result of the settlement.
<www.smh.com.au/nsw/sydney-man-sam-le-awarded-3000-over-fourminute-false-imp
risonment-20170316-guzrnu.html>

Footpaths near Southern Cross station overcrowded at peak hour.
Herald Sun March 22, 2017.
FOOTPATHS around several city centre train stations are in urgent need of
upgrades with many peak-hour bottlenecks placing pedestrians at risk of
being injured or killed.
Streets around train stations are becoming increasingly overcrowded,
particularly during peak, with pedestrians pushed onto roads.
Cafe manager Josie Edden, 23, was killed in February 2015 when she tripped
attempting to cross the nearby intersection of Collins and Spencer streets.
The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) says it is concerned about a
number of pedestrian hot spots around CBD railway stations, particular
Flinders Street, Flagstaff and Southern Cross Stations.
PTUA spokesman Daniel Bowen said many intersections and footpaths around
railway stations were poorly designed and the removal of the underground
subway at Southern Cross Station has not helped.
"Every day, hundreds of thousands of people come into central Melbourne by
train and walk to their destinations, and authorities need to make sure this
is quick, easy and safe," Mr Bowen said.
COMMUTER CRUSH: Overcrowded Collins and Spencer Streets as commuters cross
from Southern Cross Station. Picture: Hamish Blair "Measures should include
giving pedestrians more green time to get as many people through the
crossing as possible on each traffic cycle.
"They should also look at widening footpaths, moving or removing street
furniture such as signs, bins and footpath dining, and banning motorcycle
parking on busy footpaths."
At some locations, Mr Bowen said pedestrian scramble crossings, which
allowed pedestrians to cross an intersection in every direction, should be
considered to save some people from having to cross the same street twice.
He also called for a crackdown on motorists who blocked crossings, largely
ignored by authorities, which caused problems not only for pedestrians but
also for buses and trams.
"By far the best way of bringing large numbers of people into the CBD is by
public transport," Mr Bowen said.
"As central Melbourne gets busier, it becomes more important to make sure
that pedestrian flow in the city centre is as safe and efficient as
possible."
Melbourne City Council last year pledged $750,000 to investigate whether it
could open the gates to the underground walkway from the station to Little
Collins St.
However, initial investigations found that reopening the subway was not
viable and the funds were reallocated.
An airbridge across Spencer St to Bourke St was also suggested in the City
of Melbourne's 2014 walking plan to quickly move commuters out of the
station.
Other proposed improvements included widening the footpath on the north
eastern corner of Spencer and Collins Sts by three metres, which the council
says was rejected by VicRoads.
City of Melbourne spokeswoman Kate Loughnan said it was aware of footpath
crowding on Spencer St, particularly near pedestrian entrances to Southern
Cross Station.
TOO CROWDED: Intersections and footpaths around railway stations were poorly
designed, PTUA spokesman Daniel Bowen said. Picture: Hamish Blair.
"The City of Melbourne investigated reopening the pedestrian subway
underneath Spencer St; however it was found not to be viable due to
accessibility and safety reasons," she said.
"VicRoads is responsible for authorising works on Spencer St as it an
arterial road.
"Our past requests to widen footpaths on Spencer St were not approved."
Previous safety improvements at the intersection have included introducing a
40km/h speed limit along this section of Spencer St and increasing the
duration of the green pedestrian cycle to allow more people to cross the
road.
Vince Punaro, Regional Director Metro North West, said VicRoads was
constantly reviewing the operation of intersections within the CBD to ensure
they were safe.
"We know that there are large numbers of pedestrians crossing at this
intersection (Spencer St) and have worked with the City of Melbourne to
improve safety at this location," Mr Punaro said.
"We remind pedestrians to be alert to their surroundings, always use
designated crossings, obey traffic signals and avoid distractions."
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/footpaths-near-southern-cross-station-ov
ercrowded-at-peak-hour/news-story/6792c15c3dd591c122c0d3e6565362a2>

March 23 2017 Victoria warned of power shortfall risk after Hazelwood shuts
down . with tdu.
<www.theage.com.au/victoria/victoria-warned-of-potential-unprecedented-numbe
r-of-power-shortages-posthazelwood-20170322-gv46bk.html>