Committee for Melbourne puts forward bold ideas to help city’s liveability

One lobby group says a car congestion charge and cheaper public transport could go far in enhancing Melbourne’s liveability.

Cheaper off-peak public transport fares and a car congestion charge should be considered by the next state government to enhance Melbourne’s liveability, says a key city lobby group.

Committee for Melbourne also wants the next government to reassess and reprioritise major infrastructure projects, including the $100bn-plus Suburban Rail Loop.

Led by CEO Mark Melvin, the committee represents more than 150 groups spanning business, academic and community sectors to support Melbourne as “a leading global city”.

In its pitch for next month’s state election, the organisation said that since the 2018 poll, Victoria had suffered major impacts such as devastating bushfires and the pandemic.

Mr Melvin said Victoria had the highest public debt of any state, and with the economy facing skills shortages, the government needed to ensure its projects would not be “an inefficient drag on skills”.

The lobby group wants a charge based on vehicles’ use of roads. Picture: David Crosling

“We need to also ensure there are sufficient skills available for crucial sectors of the economy such as health, visitor economy, research, technology and innovation,” he said.

Mr Melvin said the committee wanted the government to reprioritise its infrastructure spending based on timeliness, productivity and effectiveness.

“The Suburban Rail Loop should be included in the reprioritisation of infrastructure spend, and put through the same lens as all other projects,” he said.

The committee is also calling for better use of existing assets to include cheaper public transport fares at certain times of the day, significant reform of the bus system, and a charge based on vehicles’ use of roads.

“These relatively cost-effective reforms might increase connectivity across the whole of Greater Melbourne while having the added benefit of reducing congestion and carbon emissions,” Mr Melvin said.

“We understand that off-peak fares have been trialled with some success, and Infrastructure Victoria has proposed varied fares for different modes of transport,” Mr Melvin said.

The committee is calling for cheaper public transport fares at certain times of the day. Picture: Daniel Pockett

The committee’s previously released Benchmarking Melbourne 2022 report highlighted a “tale of two cities”, in which not all the city’s residents could take part in Melbourne’s “wonderful offerings”.

It wants the next government to hold a summit on CBD revitalisation and its integration with other parts of Greater Melbourne.

And it’s calling for the creation of a body reporting to the state Treasurer that would develop effective engagement to promote the entire city’s tourism and experience ceconomy.

Other priorities identified by the committee include a broad-based levy to fund cheaper housing, attracting venture capital to commercialise new research and technologies, and better support of the overseas student industry.

The committee also wants the government to provide clear timelines and plans for the transition away from natural gas, and policies to encourage the take up of zero-emission vehicles, including electric cars.