Mr Flack said a tram network, if economically viable, could ease local transport issues. 

“We are a fantastically growing city and while we haven’t got the population base like Canberra, which has a more extensive public transport system, there will be a day when we need that,” he said. 

“We need to encourage people to use public transport and even bikes. It’s not reliable at the moment and there’s a mindset that needs to change.”

Mr Flack, who is running in the Eppalock Ward, said he remembered when trams ran full-time in the city. 

“It’s got to be validated and reliable,” he said. 

“There’s no point establishing something if it’s going to fall over in the first few months or years.” 

Mr Flack said he agreed with the route put forward by fellow candidate Karen Corr, which would provide tram access from the train station through to the View Street arts precinct. 

“About seven years ago it was going to cost $1 million per kilometre to run a tram track,” he said. “You could probably double that now and there would be operating costs that would have to be looked at too.” 

Candidate Helen Leach said she also supported tram upgrades.