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The City of Maroondah is holding an environment forum to discuss issues of concern to the community and to address issues relating to urban sustainability. This will be one of a series, with this first forum consisting of a largely open format allowing the community to set the agenda for the issues that council should pursue for the year.

Monday, 7th of May 2007, 7pm
Karralyka, Braeside Avenue, Ringwood East
(Closest public transport is the 670 bus from Ringwood or Croydon stations, but the last bus back is around 8pm. Or it’s about 10 minutes walk from East Ringwood station)

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Sunday, 22nd April 2007, 10am
Sandringham Beach

Volunteers needed to form the “Human Sign”: “HALT CLIMATE CHANGE NOW!”

Bring family and friends to this fun event organised by the Bayside Climate Change Action Group. Help raise global warming awareness and promote sustainability. An aerial photo will be taken, followed by Bayside City Council’s Sustainable Living Expo on the foreshore. The PTUA will have a stand at the Expo, so come along and say hello.
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Due to recent delays on the public transport network, monthly and longer ticketholders can claim for poor performance on:

• Yarra Trams for March — Click here for a form or ring on 1800 800 166
• Connex for January, February and March — Click here or get a form from a staffed station
• V/Line for January and February — Click here for details

While the compensation is minimal (a free daily/return ticket), and shorter term ticketholders who have also been affected are not eligible, the PTUA encourages users to make a claim, as it helps send the message that public transport reliability needs to improve.

Update: Passengers affected by the disruption on the Hurstbridge line this morning (Thu 12/4/2007), and other similar Connex disruptions that lasted more than two hours, are also reminded that under Connex’s Service Commitment Code, that: “If train services on a line are suspended for a period of over two hours and a bus replacement service is not provided, all eligible periodical ticket holders who use the line and validated their ticket on that day will receive a free daily ticket.”

Following on from a story in the Herald-Sun, 3AW today (11th April 2007) quoted Paul Mees commenting on the issue, but incorrectly named him as representing the PTUA. This error was later repeated in MX, blended-in with some actual comments from the PTUA.

Paul was president of the organisation for some years, but resigned from this position more than five years ago, and no longer represents the PTUA.

While we have some concerns over specifics, the PTUA strongly supports efforts to speed up tram operations. Trams carrying scores or even hundreds of people should have priority over cars that typically carry 1-2 people each. Speeding up trams and buses on our roads will help improve reliability and make services both more attractive to users, and more efficient in use of vehicles and staff.