Why do we need sustainable transport?
Sustainable transport is integral to achieving sustainable economic, environmental and social outcomes for Queenslanders.
Economic sustainability
Land transport is a key contributor to both Australian and Queensland economic growth by linking people with employment and industries with marketplaces and international trade.
Congestion can have a detrimental effect on Queensland’s economic competitiveness and productivity. Some of the avoidable costs of congestion include: loss of individual time, loss of business time, extra vehicle operating costs, and extra air pollutants that potentially impact individual’s health. Worldwide experience has shown that congestion cannot be managed solely by building more roads, river crossings and other infrastructure. While this infrastructure is important, managing congestion means addressing travel demand by creating incentives for more efficient use of the existing network out of peak periods and out of congested areas. Habitual travel patterns are not always easily changed but individual travel choices can contribute a great deal. Changing travel behaviour to manage congestion is a shared responsibility between government, industry and the community.
Another challenge to economic sustainability is that Queensland, like any modern industrialised society, is largely dependent on an abundant supply of low cost oil. Along with the rest of the world, Queensland is vulnerable to rising costs of oil and volatile supplies if demand outstrips supply. Future oil shortages and sustained high fuel prices are something that Queenslanders may face in the future. As the price of petrol rises, Queenslanders will feel the direct impact at the bowser as well as knock-on effects such as the higher costs of groceries and other goods and services. Oil is a limited resource and strategies to address the broader issue of declining supplies will help secure Queensland’s long term future.
Environmental sustainability
Transport is the fourth largest source of Queensland’s greenhouse gas emissions contributing 12.1 per cent to Queensland’s total emissions in 2008. Transport emissions are closely linked to Queensland’s economic and population growth, the need to travel long distances and increasing levels of congestion, which impact on passenger and freight movements.
Reducing the impact of the transport system on the environment is important in contributing to the liveability and sustainability of our communities. Environmental and amenity issues such as air pollution and noise need to be managed within safe and acceptable levels. Motor vehicles are a major source of common air pollutants (including hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen) which are associated with cardio-vascular and respiratory diseases. Noise pollution is an issue for communities along road and rail corridors during high demand periods and in the construction of new infrastructure projects.
In addition the transport sector encompasses key infrastructure such as roads, ports, tunnels, busways, cycleways, railways, and pipelines, as well as the infrastructure that supports the key infrastructure, such as bus and train stations. Predicted changes in Queensland’s climate could impact existing infrastructure and how infrastructure is maintained. Climate change could also affect the way that future infrastructure is designed and built, and influence the operation and attractiveness of different transport modes. It can also affect transport planning and governance arrangements.
Social sustainability
Some sections of the community face social, cultural and/or geographical disadvantages. The availability of affordable housing impacts where people in the community are able to live. People who live in urban fringe locations and rural areas experience limited transport services and high transport costs. While this is a complex problem, transport systems can contribute directly to building community and enhancing quality of life.
