VLGA/DOI Public Transport Project
The VLGA is pleased to announce that it has commenced the Implementation of the Public Transport Facilitation and Collaboration Project in partnership with the Public Transport Division of the Department of Infrastructure.
 Final agreement on project funding was reached late 2007 and Greg Thomas has been appointed as the Public Transport Local Government Facilitator and commenced work at the VLGA in January.
Key project objectives
The shared Facilitation and Collaboration Objective of the project are to work with and assist local governments to:

  • develop innovative local projects which meet both local needs and State strategies;

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  • work with their communities to both harness local knowledge and build acceptance of new Department of Infrastructure (DOI) projects and services;

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  • negotiate with multiple stakeholders to ensure agreement for complex projects;

  • encourage and facilitate local governments to work collaboratively to develop multi-municipality projects; and

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  • work with the Metropolitan Transport Forum (MTF) and other regional groupings of councils to generate joint initiatives

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The Project also seeks to provide Information Resource for Local Governments - to address the critical need to ensure that all councillors, particularly new councillors, can stay up to date and fully informed on public transport innovations and issues, utilising in particularly forms of electronic communications and presentations, including the Thinking Transport website
 This project, together with the related Public Transport Information Resource and Network Project, will generate benefits including those listed below.
Benefits of this project for local Councils
The VLGA believes that the expertise that an" Independent" facilitator can provide will be able to provide 'out of camera' advice and knowledge, so that best practice transport projects and proposals will be able to develop with greater ease and strengthen both local and regional public transport projects.
 By having access to a facilitator with a full grasp of all the issues and players, complex negotiations between multiple stakeholders should achieve a quicker resolution, while ensuring projects remain innovative, interesting and on in line with community expectations. By having access to an information resource and one-stop-shop information hub, local government councillors and professionals will be able to keep up-to-date with current issues, share best practice and network.
Greg Thomas can be contacted on (03) 9349 7943


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