- Philip Heath, Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM)
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The recently released Victorian Transport Plan constitutes a significant departure from previous Victorian transport strategies in the integrated approach taken to the development of the public transport system, road network enhancement and upgrade of cycling and pedestrian facilities. A key influence of this progressive approach was the Eddington Review, released in 2008 and the associated East West Needs Assessment, conducted for Sir Rod Eddington by the Department of Transport and its consultants. This paper describes the sustainability and environmental study conducted for the East West Needs Assessment, by consultants Sinclair Knight Merz, in association with Maunsell, and the role this study had in highlighting the importance of greenhouse and sustainability considerations in the framing of the Eddington recommendations.
This presentation describes the inputs provided by the sustainability and environment team throughout each phase of the study, including:
• Key environmental sustainability drivers influencing the needs assessment.
• Strategic environmental, social and economic sustainability considerations.
• Analysis of the major contributors to GHG emissions from transport.
• The sustainability assessment framework used to assess options under consideration.
• Exploration of the implications of a carbon-constrained future on travel behavior and GHG emissions.
• Sustainability assessment of short-listed options.
Key outcomes of the Sustainability and Environment component of the East West Needs Assessment are explained: the importance accorded to strategic sustainability factors in the formulation of the East West Needs Assessment recommendations, the finding that measures in addition to the introduction of a carbon price are required to rein in projected increases in GHG emissions from Victoria’s transport sector and the contribution of the sustainability assessment framework to the development of a balanced set of public transport, road, bicycle and pedestrian initiatives.
BIO:
Philip Heath is a Principal at Sinclair Knight Merz, and works within the company’s Sustainable Systems team. He is an experienced leader of multi-disciplinary teams with expertise in environmental strategy development, infrastructure planning, carbon reduction strategies and sustainability assessments. Philip was SKMs Project Manager for the “Understanding the potential to reduce Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions study”, for the Victorian Office of Climate Change and the sustainability and environment component of the East West needs assessment.