2016-02-22
Ms DUNN (Eastern Metropolitan) — My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Public Transport. The action I seek is that she intervene to ensure that Urban Camp Melbourne continues to access safe pick up and drop off facilities for its camp participants free of charge at the bus terminal parking area at Southern Cross station.
The redesign of Spencer Street station to Southern Cross station resulted in no safe street access to pick up and drop off school students and associated school group luggage for groups travelling to Melbourne. This redesign impacted on the operation of Urban Camp Melbourne. At the time of the redesign, discussions with the stationmaster resolved that a proposed relocation to the corner Collins and Spencer streets to a 5 minute drop off space was deemed too dangerous for the 30 to 80 students gathering and loading or unloading luggage on the footpath. Subsequently Urban Camp vehicles were granted use of the bus terminal parking area. This allowed Urban Camp to meet school groups arriving and departing Southern Cross station and loading and unloading their luggage.
It is my understanding that the Southern Cross bus terminal is now independently operated and charges for use of the bus terminal. Urban Camp is a not for profit organisation. Its vision is to provide schools and community members with an opportunity to enjoy a positive experience in the city of Melbourne. Urban Camp brings together country and city in a unique camping experience. Urban Camp provides a quiet and comfortable base at Royal Park to explore Melbourne’s cultural, educational and recreational attractions. The camp offers a haven for school, sporting and community groups visiting Melbourne.
Urban Camp assists eligible schools from economically challenged areas with its country relief project which commenced in 2001 in response to its vision to improve quality of life. Each year six schools, identified from different regions, are beneficiaries of a subsidised Urban Camp. For the past 9 to 10 years Urban Camp has had an arrangement where it has been able to collect school camp participants from regional Victoria via the regional bus bay area at Southern Cross station for no charge. It has now been abruptly advised by the operator of the bus bay that it will have to pay.
Urban Camp only uses the Southern Cross bus bay because there is no on street parking on Spencer and Collins streets and because the Southern Cross refurbishment did not create any public pick up or drop off points that can accommodate busloads of students. I urge the minister to intervene and give her support to Urban Camp so it can continue the longstanding arrangement that has been in place and provide safe access at no cost to students from across regional Victoria experiencing this unique Melbourne based school camp.