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Subject: Sun.22.5.22 daily digest

Roderick

 "220522Su-Melbourne'HeraldSun'-b&b-train.parts-ss.jpg" 
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folio https://www.msn.com/en-au/travel/news/the-oldest-subway-stations-in-the-world/ss-AAXzffS?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=2d32a86dc2704f94951471474c04c7d1

Sun.22.5.22 Metro Twitter
Flinders St: still with a lane closed for tunnel works? [reopened by July?  Closed again by Nov.]
Campbell Arcade (Flinders St station) is closed until 2024. The exit from the Myki gates within the subway will  also be closed. No pedestrian access between the arcade & Flinders St. Use Elizabeth & Swanston St entry/exits. Platform  interchange via that subway will be available until mid 2022.
Buses replace trains Sunshine - Sunbury until the last train of Sun 22 May (works).
Buses replace trains on sections of the Mernda line until the last train of Sunday 29 May (works).  When trains return, they'll bypass Preston & Bell for around 3 months.
Buses replace trains between Ringwood and Lilydale until the last train of Monday 23 May (level-crossing works).
Pakenham/Cranbourne/Frankston lines: Buses replace trains city - Caulfield - Westall from 20.30 until the last train tonight (works take). Take a Glen Waverley train to Burnley to connect with express buses.
22.35 Hurstbridge Line: Major delays (police at Watsonia). Trains may be held at platforms.
- 23.26 Buses to replace trains Heidelberg - Hurstbridge.  Buses have been ordered, but may take over 20 minutes to arrive; consider alternatives.
- 23.42 Trains have resumed.  The first will be the 22.42 Flinders St - Hurstbridge.

Victoria ready to call on Labor’s infrastructure promises.  Shannon Deery May 22, 2022
The Andrews government is eager to begin talks with the federal Labor government about unlocking $4bn in infrastructure funding.
Victoria is expecting to call in the promise to unlock $4bn in infrastructure funding in a new partnership with the federal Labor government.
State government sources say talks around a range of funding issues for key projects are expected to gather momentum as early as this week.
Negotiations around a new partnership for growth funding for public hospitals are also expected to be fast tracked on the back of Labor’s $20bn election pledge to increase hospital funding.
A further $4bn in infrastructure spending on the eve of the election, saying it would commit the cash to a range of projects.
It followed a $2.2bn commitment toward the $34.5bn eastern section of the Suburban Rail Loop between Cheltenham and Box Hill.
Significant investments to other major projects include $150 million to build the Camerons Lane Interchange at Beveridge, and $125 million for the Barwon Heads Road duplication.
Anthony Albanese made a number of election pledges to Victoria’s infrastructure builds. Picture: Sam Ruttyn
The Mickleham Rd Upgrade in Greenvale will receive more than $100m in federal funding, while $57m has been put aside for the Wyndham West Link in southwest Melbourne/
At least 10 new urgent care medical clinics have also been promised across the state as part of a $135m policy.
The state government is keen to see increased federal funding committed to both the Suburban Rail Loop and the North East Link.
Election promises
$2.2bn toward the $34.5bn eastern section of the Suburban Rail Loop between Cheltenham and Box Hill
$150 million to build the Camerons Lane Interchange at Beveridge
$125 million for the second stage of the Barwon Heads Road duplication
$109.5m for the Mickleham Rd Upgrade in Greenvale
$57m for the Wyndham West Link in southwest Melbourne
$10m to plan the Western Highway upgrade between Melton and Caroline Springs
Creation of at least 10 new urgent care medical clinics across the state as part of a $135m policy.
It has refused repeated $4bn offers from the Morrison government to build the East West Link since the Premier’s decision to rip up contracts for the project in 2014.
Ahead of the election Labor’s infrastructure spokeswoman Catherine King said she would work with the state government to open the $4bn locked box.
“If they’re not going to build them, then having that money just sitting there — not actually being productively used in the economy to employ and to build things — I think is pretty shortsighted,” she said.
“It’s in contingency and it’s not counted in the budget, so that would be a discussion to have post-election.”
The state government is keen to see increased federal funding committed to the Suburban Rail Loop.
Ms King flagged an Albanese government would make further investments in the Suburban Rail Loop.
She said the level of infrastructure investment would “certainly will be higher” under Labor.
Although she stopped short of backing Victoria’s push for a 25 per cent share in line with the state’s population.
Mr Andrews has his government would never consider building the 18 kilometre East West Link connection road.
“Let’s be abundantly clear about this. This project has been to two state elections and I’m very pleased to say it was defeated and our government and its priorities were endorsed,” he said last week.
“I’m not about building the things Victorians didn’t vote for.”
More Coverage
Dead end for ‘defeated’ East West Link
Albanese reveals economic boost from Suburban Rail Loop
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/victoria-ready-to-call-on-labors-infrastructure-promises/news-story/21e510092e0a60265bdb38861aa1002c>

Melbourne City Council’s bike lane and footpath bill revealed.  John Masanauskas May 22, 2022
Melbourne City Council will spend twice as much on bike lanes and footpaths than on roads over the next year, at an eye-watering cost to ratepayers.
Empty bike lane in Swanston Street. Picture: David Crosling
Melbourne City Council will spend double the money on new bike lanes and upgrading footpaths than it will on roads over the next year.
The council has faced a backlash from some traders and motorists for new pop up bike lanes through the CBD that have reduced car space.
However, it’s understood that changes are on the way as the council analyses vehicle movements to ensure smoother traffic flows.
Council’s new draft budget has allocated $12.9 million for footpaths and cycleways, but only $6.5 million for roads in 2022-23.
And just $4 million of the road funding is actually for road renewal, with the rest going on improvements to pedestrian safety.
Town Hall will spend $1.18 million more on footpath renewal than road renewal, and $3.2 million on Exhibition St theatre precinct streetscape works that will include widening footpaths.
$4 million in ratepayer money will be spent on new bike lanes. Picture: David Crosling
Ratepayers will fork out $4 million for new bike lanes and other cycling infrastructure over the next year.
Small Business Australia executive director Bill Lang said that the City of Melbourne should be spending much more on roads than on cycle infrastructure given more cars were used to get to the city than bikes.
Mr Lang said that Exhibition St, which has a controversial pop up bike lane, was not a good example of the council’s “prowess” in bike lane, footpath and streetscape planning.
“Those theatres attract a number of people who come to Melbourne from interstate for a weekend to see a show and go shopping,” he said.
“Is it any wonder that there is so much chatter and anger amongst the shop owners and regular visitors and workers in the City of Melbourne given the impact of the council’s changes to Exhibition St.”
Melbourne bike lane on Exhibition St in the CBD. Picture: David Crosling
Mr Lang said the best solution would be “to rip up the bike lanes in Exhibition St”.
City of Melbourne has argued that access to the city must be made safe for all modes of transport, including for cyclists and pedestrians as their numbers grew.
It’s understood the council will spend much less on bike lanes than Sydney will this year, and funding will decrease in coming years.
The Exhibition St streetscape works, which are similar to improvements made outside the Princess Theatre in Spring St, were identified in a council report as needed to improve pedestrian connectivity and greening of the city.
Victoria Walks executive officer Ben Rossiter welcomed the council’s investment in footpaths.
“As people are coming back to the city our footpaths are getting very busy, very quickly,” he said.
“It’s critical to the long-term liveability and economic strength of the city that footpaths are made wider so it’s easier to get around on foot.”
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/melbourne-city-councils-bike-lane-and-footpath-bill-revealed/news-story/f8f4dd997c231052c34ff3e3492d3ab1>

Sun.22.5.22 Melbourne 'Herald Sun'.  B&b accommodation.
OTWAYS LOFT — TRAIN & TREE HOUSE, Forrest
Escape to your very own treehouse, a three—storey structure built from raw and recycled materials on a framework of mountain-ash poles. Parts of an old train carriage and a nearby church are some of the salvaged bits and bobs in the quirky, charming home. Relax by the fireplace and soak up the magic.  dufflebird.com.au

Sun.22.5.22 Melbourne 'Herald Sun'.  Bike lanes, editorial.
MELBOURNE’S CBD got smashed during the pandemic.
Deserted scenes were a recurring sight in what were normally the city’s liveliest zones. You could almost kick a footy in Bourke St Mall, or start a game of cricket outside Flinders St station.
No people and almost no traffic.  Shops and restaurants closed; many businesses surrendered to the impossible demands of lockdowns that felt like they would never end.
Much has been made of the rejuvenation since. Getting people back into the city -— to work, to shop and to eat out -— has rightly been identified as the foremost need.
The city must return to its perch as a destination for all Melburnians — those who live near and also those further out in the suburbs. It can only thrive again when all are encouraged to return.
This is why a Melbourne City Council decision to prioritise funds for bike lanes seems so misplaced. Cyclists, it seems, are more important than motorists. The question needs to be asked, where is the wisdom in promoting the desires of one interest group ahead of the needs of the many?
The council’s new draft budget has allocated $12.9m for footpaths and cycleways, but only $6.5m for roads, in 2022-23.
About $4m is to be allocated to road renewal, while ratepayers will pay the same amount for new bike lanes and related infrastructure over the next year.
Small Business Australia executive director Bill Lang has highlighted the obvious problem with such a distribution of funding — many more cars are used to get into the city than bikes.
All Melburnians are essential to the CBD’s rebuilding.
The city must be extolled as the people’s city capital for all Victorians, not just cyclists who, collectively at least, express disdain for motoring commuters.
The council must be a custodian of the city, not a sponsor for vested interests that conflict with the greater whole.
Prioritising cycling interests predominantly from inner-city surrounds stands to alienate those who the city needs most right now.
The lifeblood of Melbourne are those people who come to the city to spend — to enjoy a day out — and right now Melbourne needs them more than ever.
No one rides a bike into the city for a day of shopping.
For many Melburnians, poor or unreliable public transport choices demand the need to drive a car. No one is riding a bike into the city from the outer suburbs.
Of course, the needs of cyclists and drivers is a balancing act, and cyclist safety must be an imperative.
Yet the council has already spent millions from a special $lOOm city recovery fund to bring forward 40km of protected bike lanes in places like Exhibition and Queensbridge streets over the past year, prompting criticism that motorists are being “unfairly punished”.
Opponents of this approach argue the new cycling spaces are being taken from roads and parking bays, not footpaths.
The council plans to build 70km more of bike lanes in and around the city in the next eight years. This is for cyclists, mind, who currently represent about 7 per cent of the city’s traffic.
The budget decision comes after bike lanes installed in Exhibition St inflamed motorists and traders.
They convincingly argued that the preoccupation with cyclist needs came at the expense of car convenience.
Reported levels of congestion skyrocketed. Traders complained that the loss of Exhibition St carparks discouraged potential customers from stopping.
The chorus of criticism has featured Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra, who has said there is a place for bike lanes, “but probably not in our major thoroughfares”.
“If you look how you come in and out of the city, almost every access (for cars) is now limited to a single lane,” he said recently.
Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce chief executive Geoff Gwilym says the “humble driver” has been “marginalised”. He said he thought it was now “horrible” to drive in the city.
“The message to Melburnians is visit the city  but motorists are petrified to come in because it’s crawling with bicycles,” he said.
Mr Lang recently told the Sunday Herald Sun he had spoken to many small business owners in the city. “None of these traders have listed additional bike lanes as a priority action they want to see from council,” he said.
“What they have spoken about are concerns for the survival of their businesses and their ability to keep a roof over their families’ heads, and are pleading for more to be done to see Melburnians return to the CBD.”
Mr Lang has argued that the council should invest more time in “speaking to the ratepayers of the city” about making parking easier and more affordable.
It’s hard to argue with him when he says that the best solution would be “to rip up the bike lanes in Exhibition St”.
Melbourne needs all the motorists and cyclists it can attract. It does not need council policies that place the conveniences of the minority ahead of the business needs and transport needs of the many.

Sun.22.5.22 Melbourne 'Herald Sun'.  Letters.
* Don't blame victims.  EVERYONE needs to be able to walk and get around safely, particularly older walkers, people with disability and families with young kids.
This year has seen a big increase in road crashes killing or seriously injuring walkers. Victoria Police’s response has been to focus on walkers using mobile phones, despite little research showing this is a major factor in pedestrian road trauma.
Elderly walkers are an increasing proportion of those killed or injured on Victoria’s roads — this year 40 per cent of walker fatalities have been 70 or older.
Long-term analysis of pedestrian crashes show that older walkers are nearly always doing the right thing when they are hit by drivers. Talk of pedestrian distraction is a distraction from addressing this major issue.
Poor road design or bad driver behaviour is a policing issue.
We need to stop victim-blaming and concentrate on the known, main causes of pedestrian trauma: road design, speed limits that prioritise movement of motor vehicles over vulnerable road users, and driver knowledge of their obligations to walkers.
* Make parking easier. MELBOURNE will never become a liveable city while it costs exorbitant amounts for parking, cars are discouraged and the streets are full of beggars and drug addicts.
Raising rates, parking fines and costs is a retrograde step. Sally Capp and her green minions should realise it’s difficult to buy or carry any amount of good or produce on foot or by bicycle and while it may be aesthetically pleasant it is economically disastrous. Motorists have spent large amounts before even shopping or seeking entertainment.