Gooseberry Hill resident Mandy Cross a facilitator for 'TravelSmart Workplace'

22/2/99
Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes today praised the commitment of Gooseberry Hill resident Mandy Cross for volunteering as a facilitator for the new environmental program, 'TravelSmart Workplace'
The program aims to help find a solution to Perth's air quality problems.
"Perth residents need to start becoming actively involved in cleaning up our city's air," Mrs Edwardes said.
"Half of the pollutants which form photochemical smog come from motor vehicles and as Perth grows it is on the verge of developing air quality problems similar that of major cities."
Each weekday 90 per cent of the 55,000 vehicles which travel in and out of Perth contain only the driver.
The Minister said the new TravelSmart Workplace program involved encouraging 2,000 participants to leave their car at home and use an alternative form of transport - car pooling, walking, public transport or cycling.
"The TravelSmart Workplace program builds on evidence gathered through a Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Transport's 1997 trial which examined the attitudes, knowledge and behaviour of car drivers," she said.
"This trial concluded that many people who currently drive to work on their own, were considering using alternative forms of transport such as public transport, cycling and walking, but they all need tangible motivators to change their behaviour with regard to how they used their car."
The trial showed a shift of 11 per cent of people from driver only cars to other types of travel including car pooling, cycling, public transport and even walking.
"Imagine if we could achieve this type of reduction in motor vehicle use throughout all of Perth," Mrs Edwardes said.
She said the TravelSmart Workplace program, which would run for the next three years, included the participation of nine volunteer facilitators from Murdoch University, including Mandy, who would help employees change the way they travel to and from work.
"By dedicating her time and sharing her knowledge of environmental issues, Mandy wants to show our community that we can all make a difference to Perth's air quality," the Minister said.
"Mandy is enthusiastic about environmental issues and is keen to make a difference to Perth's environment."
Mrs Edwardes said the volunteer facilitators would be placed in seven participating organisations: Kvaener Oil and Gas Australia, Hartley Poynton Limited, TVW Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Clough Engineering, Marketforce, Homewest and the Department of Transport.
"It is the co-operation between State Government agencies, Murdoch University and these private organisations which shows how much of an issue the quality of Perth's air is for all sectors of our community," she said.
"One of the most important parts of this program is getting people to recognise that we all, as individuals, can make a difference and by working together our efforts in improving Perth's air quality will have even more of an impact."
Mrs Edwardes said that even making a choice to leave your car at home one or two days a week could really make a difference, especially when considering the cumulative effect of everyone who chose alternative transport.
"To use the TravelSmart slogan - It's how you get there that counts!" she said.
Media contacts: Ministerial - Nicole Trigwell 9421 7777
Mandy Cross 94545058