Transport
Transport Overview
Strategic Objective: To enhance and support local government's advocacy and delivery of improved mobility and transport for the community.
While roads have long been the primary focus of the transport agenda for local government, there are current and future drivers that require councils to consider a broader approach to transport.
The MAV acknowledges the efforts of many councils to respond to community needs through a range of transport initiatives and has resolved to develop a statewide transport strategy that assesses the changing role of local government. The strategy also seeks to establish common priorities and recommendations for the MAV and the sector going forward.
Complementary to and building on the strategy development, the MAV seeks to influence major transport policy initiatives, particularly at the State Government level, and to convey sector-wide concerns and issues of importance.
Integration of the nation's land transport networks is also a key focus for the Australian Government and in 2004 it released the Auslink White Paper, a strategy to achieve better national land transport planning, funding and investment decisionmaking.
Funding for local government is provided through Auslink, including the Roads to Recovery, Strategic Regional and Black Spot programs.
MAV’s Role
The MAV continues to support councils' statutory role in the provision and maintenance of local road infrastructure and also represents the sector in other transport areas including public transport, community transport, walking, cycling and road safety initiatives.
As part of this role, the MAV has made a number of submissions to State Government reviews and inquiries, the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission (VCEC) Transport Congestion Inquiry, the Speed Limit Review, the Walking Safely Review and the Driver Distraction Inquiry.These submissions aer available in the Resources page of this section.
The allocation and provision of appropriate funding programs available to local government is also a key focus of the MAV's ongoing activities.
The MAV Transport and Infrastructure Advisory Committee, consisting of councillors and senior local government officers, provides advice to the MAV Management Board and contributes to the direction of the MAV’s transport policy positions and initiatives.
Initiatives
Strategic Transport Planning: The New Paradigm Conference 2008
Hosted by the MAV, this event explored the importance of local government linking its strategic transport planning with land use planning and employment patterns to respond to population changes, climate change, peak oil and congestion issues. Presentations from renowned international and local experts, and a Conference Communiqué are now available online.
High Productivity Vehicles (HPVs)
Local government plays an important role in ensuring efficient operation of HPVs and the movement of freight by road across the state. Local government is working with the truck industry and other levels of government to ensure community safety, local amenity and access to local roads are considered as part of the ongoing operational standards and approval processes for HPVs on Victorian roads.
MAV Transport Strategy and Publications
The MAV has developed a Transport Strategy Reference Document, a
Sustainable Transport Action Plan and a quarterly Transport
E-bulletin. In addition, the Transport and Infrastructure Reference
Group has developed a work plan for 2007.
Find out more about the MAV Transport Strategy and Publications>
Transport Coalitions Meeting
The MAV hosted a meeting of Victorian transport groups and coalitions on 1 March 2007. Major groups represented were the MAV Transport and Infrastructure Advisory Group, the Western Transport Alliance, the Eastern Transport Coalition, the Metropolitan Transport Forum, and the Coalition for People's Transport.
Find out more about the Transport Coalitions Meeting>
Transporting Communities into 2030 Conference 2006
MAV Transport Forum 2005
To better understand the transport challenges facing local communities and inform the development of preferred transport strategies, the MAV organised a Transport Forum on 'Exploring the Role of Local Government' on 6 October 2005.
Find out more about the MAV Transport Forum>
Road Safety
The MAV is involved in a number of road safety initiatives including a Saferoads partnership with representatives from VicRoads, Victoria Police, the Transport Accident Commission, Local Government Professionals (LGPro) and the RACV.
Find out more about Road Safety>
Victorian Government Transport Strategy
The 'Meeting our Transport Challenges' statement (2006) is the Victorian Government’s action blueprint for shaping Victoria’s transport system into the future. Local government will be involved in many aspects of the statement’s implementation.
Find out more about Victorian Government Transport Strategy>
Resources
Transport project and initiative specific resources can be found on individual pages throughout this section of the website. All key and general resources for Transport can be viewed at the Transport Resources Page.
Go to the Transport Resources page>