Bay people plea for bus
Remaining optimistic: Cr Kieran Kennedy is confident of an adequate bus service in the future.
By Brad Lester
THE people of Venus Bay and Tarwin Lower have called on South Gippsland Shire Council to restore a community bus service to the town.
And this time the people are asking for the restoration of a service to Wonthaggi, as well as Leongatha.
A trial V/Line bus service – initiated through the State Government’s South Gippsland Transport Connections program – is due to expire in early October, leaving the communities without public transport.
A petition has been circulating in the community calling for services to Wonthaggi and Leongatha, in response to South Gippsland Shire Council stopping the community bus service for eligible passengers last year.
The call for better public transport has been backed by Cr Kieran Kennedy, a Venus Bay resident. He said council officers are now considering a proposal for a service, with the cost to be based on distance travelled.
“The people of Venus Bay and Tarwin Lower do not pay $2.5 million in rates on an annual basis to be treated like this. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect,” he said.
“We will not rest until the bus is returned to the Venus Bay community.”
He and other Venus Bay people say the community has closer ties with Wonthaggi than Leongatha due to a broader range of shops and services there.
Therefore, a bus link to Wonthaggi was vital, he said.
Robyn Robinson, of the Venus Bay General Store, agreed.
“We are concerned the shire is not going to get a tender for a bus to Wonthaggi because it’s not in South Gippsland Shire,” she said.
“We understand that but at the same time, they’ve got to help people.”
Ms Robinson said few people used the V/Line bus as it connected with Leongatha only, via Koonwarra.
Council officers are now lobbying the State Government to divert some V/Line services to Wonthaggi for the remainder of the trial.
Venus Bay resident Robert Field relied on the community bus service for shopping and appointments, and is looking forward to a new service.
“There are indications our service will be returned,” he said.
Short URL: http://www.thestar.com.au/?p=234
Posted by 
