Local Cultures – Global Spaces

Abstract

The Melbourne government has implemented several sustainable development policies in recent years to reduce the city’s carbon footprint, including those related to transportation. However, actual development in the city has led to conflicts with these policies at a range of scales. The expansion of suburbs and the increasing number of vehicles on the road have resulted in increased emissions and a higher dependence on cars, which contradicts the government’s aim of promoting sustainable transportation. The government has also faced challenges encouraging the use of public transportation due to the lack of connectivity, frequency, and reliability of services. In this paper, the conflicts between the Melbourne government’s sustainable development policy in transportation and actual development on the ground will be examined. Major challenges to the development of sustainable transportation systems in Melbourne include: limited budgets and competing funding priorities; political opposition in the form of conflicting interests and competing political agendas; and public acceptance, including resistance to change and lack of awareness of sustainable policy objectives. To address these challenges, it will be necessary to develop improved funding mechanisms (for example exploring alternative financing models and public-private partnerships), build political support through engagement with stakeholders prioritizing sustainable development, and raise public awareness (for example through education and outreach campaigns to promote sustainable transportation options).