Sustainable Transport Forum
Once again, this project started with one of Will's 'What if we...' ideas.
He'd been really impressed when he heard Eliot Fishman, Director of Melbourne's Institute for Sensible Transport, speak on the radio and decided that we needed him here right now.
Nevermind that we really knew nothing about him and didn't have any money to pay him anyway: Eliot was keen; our spare room cleaned; and well the rest is history.
The forum on Sensible Transport for the Newcastle Region was held at the Newcastle Town Hall in September 2010 attracted a full house.
Elliot Fishman proved to be an interesting and engaging speaker who had a brain brimming with ideas about sustainable transport.
The purpose of the forum was to highlight the issue of Peak Oil and the necessary changes we will need to make to accommodate the rising cost of oil. Eliot, and a panel of locals, explored ideas for sensible transport in Newcastle given the profound economic and social implications resulting from the future rising costs of energy – oil in particular.
Newcastle with its combination of car/bus/rail /ferry transport systems is a perfect mid-sized city to be a model case study for the development of a sensible transport system that can survive peak oil and allow us to prosper into an otherwise uncertain future.
This forum attracted engineers, planners, uni students and a host of people involved with transport in the area, some of whom registered for our Sustainable Transport Group. Headed up by Tony Proust, this group is still liaising with councils across the Hunter aboutways to move forward with alternative transport.
While Eliot was in Newcastle he also held briefings with council committees which had ongoing impacts.
Thankfully he wasn't just a big brain but was also a lovely house guest and slept happily amogst the toys in the spare room.
Brief Bio on Eliot
Elliot is one of Australia’s leading experts on sustainable transport and oil vulnerability. He has worked both internationally and around Australia on a variety of transport issues - with a special interest in bicycle and infrastructure planning. He acted as Expert Witness on Canberra’s Senate Inquiry into Australia’s Fuel Supply and Alternatives and advised the Prime Minister’s Office on petrol prices and sustainable transport.
He is currently preparing a report for the Queensland Government on the costs and benefits of walking and cycling for transport.
Elliot was Project Director and Report Editor for Australia’s first Peak Oil Contingency Plan, commissioned by a local council.
He has written numerous articles for The Age, the Herald Sun and industry journals on transport, energy and sustainability as well as regular appearances on Channel Seven’s Sunrise program.
Elliot is currently the Director of the Institute for Sensible Transport. This role requires him to develop sustainable transport, land use and energy solutions for government and the private sector.
