At the Local Government Association conference on Tuesday 26 October, a motion dealing with Public Transport in Sydney that was moved on behalf of the Executive was successfully amended to incorporate specific points A through D as drafted by Councillor Bradley Hughes of Randwick City Council. An additional point E moved from the floor of the Conference was also accepted into the motion.

By incorporating the specific policy points drafted by Councillor Hughes, the LGA Conference has shown a willingness to tell the State Government that local communities want sustainable transport solutions based on light rail with bus interchanges to support local communities and cross-regional travel needs.

Councillor Hughes said upon seeing the resolution adopted by the LGA Conference delegates, incorporating his specific inclusions "This is a great endorsement of light rail as a sustainable public transport solution for the future of Sydney."

He went on to say "I am especially hopeful that we can look forward to the planning and implementation of light rail infrastructure to serve the people of Randwick and its major institutions including UNSW, Prince of Wales Hospital and Randwick Racecourse. Our community in the City of Randwick deserves a public transport system that is affordable, available, frequent and reliable."

Councillor Hughes concluded his remarks saying,

"When the day comes that the average commuter can no longer afford to drive their car to and from work every day, Councillors right across Sydney have demonstrated that they want their constituents to have a viable affordable alternative already planned and implemented ready for them to use in preference to an unsustainable reliance on private motor vehicles for daily commuting."

The final amended resolution passed by the LGA delegates read:

1. That this Conference rejects the State Government’s current adhoc and unsustainable approach to transport infrastructure planning and development and calls for a review/inquiry into the planning and funding of transport infrastructure across the greater Sydney metropolitan area.
2. That this Conference lobbies the Ministers for Transport and Planning for better public transport; including:
1. Comprehensive light rail infrastructure in urban environments
2. Planning and implementation of light rail and bicycle corridors in all new Motorway projects
3. Progressive retrofitting of light rail into bus transitways in acknowledgement of the Roads Minister’s verbal commitment to this conference on 25 October
4. Proper planning and development of intermodal public transport interchanges in major metro centres
5. Cross-regional bus services

(points in bold drafted by Councillor Bradley Hughes of Randwick City Council)

3. That the decision on the M4 East Tunnel be postponed until there is a more strategic and sustainable blueprint and long term strategy for public transport in Sydney
4. That this conference urge the Minister for Transport to investigate as a matter of urgency a congestion levy for the Sydney CBD