Held on 27th September 2007 at the Town of Vincent. With sustained higher petrol prices, the likelihood of continuing price increases and the challenge of reducing climate change emissions, this seminar explored fuel reduction strategies already initiated in WA Local Governments and workshopped strategies that other Local Government could consider.
The seminar presented projects undertaken at Fremantle, Victoria Park and Department for Planning
and Infrastructure. The event provided a space to workshop ideas and consider future activities
that need to be undertaken.  A summary of the workshops is below.

Welcoming Address: Nick Catania (Mayor of Vincent)

Introduction: Ian Ker (STCWA)

 ian_ker_sep07 1.65 Mb

Presenters:

A Local Government Perspective: Michelle Mackenzie (WALGA)

Sustainable Transport planning and reflections on workshops around Australia and NZ: Ian Ker (STCWA)

 ian_ker_sept07 2.30 Mb

Local Public Transport issues: CAT and the FreoStar Services: David Nicholson (Fremantle)

 david_nicholson-pt2 2.49 Mb

Fleet selection and alternative fuels: Dorte Hansen (Victoria Park)

 dorte_hansen_sept07 2.60 Mb

Best and Bad parking places: George Brown (Department for Planning and Infrastructure)

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This Seminar was successful with over 40 people attending.  Along with the presentation the audiences enjoyed there was enthusiastic discussion over what could be attained and could not in the com ing 20 years.  The Seminar produced a wide range of potential ideas and concerns which could be pursued at the governmental level for the promotion of sustainability. The following statements are a summary of the workshops.   

1. What are the current fuel reduction strategies in your council?

2. It is the Year 2030 and you are about to retire.  You are asked by your colleagues to outline the highlights and the lowlights of your career in enhancing the sustainability of transport in your com munity and your organization.  Two questions need to be answered

a)      What have you achieved since attending the STC/WALGA Workshop in September 2007

b)      What have you not achieved since September 2007 – and why?

Table A– Question 1

-         60% on LPG

-         Downsizing engine capacity

-         Conversion to Diesel

Question 2

-Strategic sustainable transport policy for local government, working together to achieve these solutions

-WALGA led DPI into a practical network city plan

-Electric motor bikes, bonus for active transport

-FPT overhaul, eliminating perverse price signals

-Public mini CAT fleet, running on solar power

-Reuse of public car parks for other purposes

-Reincorporation of corner stores

-Employees from LGA

-Increased density in all suburbs

-Childcare on site by all employers

-Unable to stop nuclear power station being built at Kwinana

-Failure to reuse shopping malls as popularity declines

-Failure to reuse for permanent use by trams

-Failure of legal profession to embrace sustainability

Table B – Question 2

-localised services + transport options as a result of peak oil price pressure

(e.g. shared local school rooms, sports facilities and libraries)

-deliberate planning strategy that takes into account the need for localized services

-giving services back to the com munity

-housing choice in each of our com munities not just near transit (mixed use low-high densing living)

-travel behaviour changed

-freeways have bicycle access

-work from home increasing – internet hubs developing / internet/video conference increasing

-village square as meeting point & social interaction & com munication hubs

- com munity gardens

-micro-government – suburban neighborhood com munities

-everybody is still traveling 60 minutes a day

-adaptation to peak oil issues force on the com munity as a result of lack of time and unpreparedness 

-Freeways never reduced to one lane each way for private cars