Minutes of South and West Gippsland Transport Group meeting be held at 7.00pm Monday 20th of February 2017 Austral Hotel Korumburra Next Meeting Thursday 16 of March at the Community meeting rooms Korumburra opposite the BP service station and part of library building 7.00 pm-9.00 pm enter from northern side of the building Commenced 7.10 Present Andrew McEwen David Rasmus Brian Hess Ben Corcoran Travis Longmire John Saylor Terry Franklin Bret Levenspiel Steve Howard Debbie Love Marie Sherrard-Staton Chris Cantlon Apologies Cr Don Hill Cr Jeremy Rich Peter Hinksman Generals Business 1. Update of status A deputation met with Minister Allen’s adviser and Chief of staff. The meeting ran over time they said we need to have a follow up meeting. They were impressed by the quality of our submission. The meeting advised that Councils will have to contribute to the integrated transport study. The deputation made comparison with Castlemaine. Work also has been done on comparing old timetables half an hour quicker 20 years ago. While there was some suggestion of a 30 year wait for the line, it was explained to the deputation that it would if it proceeds be a staged redevelopment of line, first diesel, then duplication and finally electrification. There was concern that the Committee for Gippsland want to duplicate highway to Leongatha without addressing the overall transport needs. Andrew McEwen met with the with the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Rail Mathew Guy has requested him to explore ways of reducing congestion in Melbourne by exploring potential more passenger rail services to rural areas. We advocated the case for return of rail to Leongatha with the scope to grow population of South Gippsland faster. One of Mr Guy’s political advisor has indicated to a member of the group that there was consideration of extending the Cranbourne Line to Clyde. This may well be also on the agenda for Labor. Car parks along Cranbourne Rail car park of 700 are full Social Media and Political Strategy There was a long discussion in regard to what should be our next steps in terms of building social media and our political strategy. Currently we have 2100 on our rail Facebook page and 500 on the SWTG site or overall 2600 people. 65% on these site are locals. Most people aged 30-55 years. One is about rail other on return of rail bring likes across. We have tried to get them across, but it is proving difficult to motivate them. We have not been hugely successful in getting people from rail to our SWGT Facebook. Having two Facebook weakens our engagement. Politicians are more interested in economic. Put more economics based reasons for on social media getting a bigger audience. We will not be taken seriously until have a wider reach on Facebook. Decisions  That we want to double the number on Facebook SWGT site to increase our clout.  That we continue our attempts to migrate the rail Facebook members to SWGT site  That we focus on more economic arguments on Facebook page and cross link to our web site  That we use a tag line of “Better Transport for SW Gippsland.”  That we aim to get other local Facebook pages to post a comment about Group and our Facebook page on their web sites  Chris Cantlon and Bret Levenspiel to explore high reach Facebook pages and talk to them about making a post on the group  Bret Levenspiel committed to write a post for distribution  Andrew said that he would send a note to local community newsletters and paper  Andrew to check with RACV re a post on their web site.  Marie said that given the limited number of women involved she would approach people.  Approach business associations KBA, tourist organisations, Ongoing strategy There was a discussion of using a campaign for better local bus transport as a way of focusing attention on our group and its issues. Ben Corcoran offered to lead the development of a report on bus services and the needs of students, people without cars, disabled people and older people. Thus could be used as basis for a campaign for better cross shires transport and local transport for Leongatha and Korumburra. When new have the report we can launch it and a campaign on Change.org as a way of mobilising people. It was resolved that Ben, and Andrew with possible held from Max Semkin to start preparing a report. 2. Political strategy a. That we organise a follow up meeting with Jacinta Allen’s advisors. Presentations to political parties was deferred subject to developing the new campaign 3. Presentation to council a. Council develop Priority projects as part of their 4 Year Council plans. It was agreed that we make presentations to SHSC about supporting and Integrated transport plan b. Travis, Ben, Brian, David & Chris indicated that they would help if possible 4. David Rasmus gave a report on the Korumburra Rail Staten community use of empty rail buildings heritage building. The local group has got enough community groups to go in a self-sustaining submission to VICTRACK and then business plan. A letter was tabled from Benni Hulls with suggestions for the rail site. 5. Election of Officers Andrew McEwen was returned as Chair and Brian Hess as Co-Chair 6. Next Meeting Thursday 16 of March at the Community meeting rooms opposite the BP service station and part of library building 7.00 pm-9.00 pm