GOVERNMENT URGED TO LOOK AT TRAM PLAN

21 August 2013 

From page 01 WHITTLESEA transport activists are determined to put the extension of tram route 86 to South Morang on the agenda ahead of next year’s State Budget.

Alahna Desiato and Trevor Carroll are helping to lead the campaign to extend tram route 86 to South Morang.

The Friends of South Morang has collected more than 1000 signatures on a petition calling for the extension, but it is aiming for 5000 names by May.

Alahna Desiato, 20, is spearheading the campaign and rallying support among student circles using social media. She wants the Government to fund Whittlesea Council’s public transport plan for South Morang.

It proposes an extended tram route along Plenty Rd, Bundoora, turning into Bush Blvd and travelling through The Lakes Blvd before terminating at Plenty Rd, South Morang.

“The route makes sense, it connects well to Westfield, the train station and all the houses around there,” she said. “We got the train line to South Morang; we should get the tram, that would help the car parking at South Morang train station.”

Resident group secretary Trevor Carroll said the group planned to mount pressure before budget deliberations and next year’s state election.

Council advocacy director Griff Davis said the council identified the need for a tram line extension in 1989, but it had not gained traction with the government or residents until now.

Mr Davis said while land had been preserved for the extension through South Morang, extending it north was not possible as there was no more land available.