ALP calls for transit hub to be reopened

A PUSH for the reinstatement of a transit centre in Devonport for long-haul bus passengers is continuing, with Tasmania’s Labor Party launching a petition on the issue.

The Redline transit centre closed at the end of last month, leaving passengers having to wait with their luggage on Rooke St. About 15,000 passengers move through the centre every year.

Labor MPs Anita Dow and Shane Broad renewed their calls on Monday for the state government to reconsider its decision to close the centre.

Ms Dow said the move had disadvantaged users of the bus service. “They have been left with no transit centre and no staff in Devonport,’’ she said.

Labor said without the transit centre, people using the coach service were only able to book online, and that there were no onsite staff, no shelter and no bathroom facilities.

“Many of the people using this service regularly are elderly or disabled and there’s also a high proportion of unaccompanied minors travelling on these coaches,” Dr Broad said.

The Department of State Growth has said Redline elected to close and sell its prior Devonport transit centre. The department said it helped to fund an interim transit centre as work on the new Rooke St interchange was done, saying the contract with Redline stipulated the temporary centre would be supported only until the new interchange opened.

Infrastructure and Transport Minister Michael Ferguson said the changes brought the departure and arrival point to the new Paranaple Centre.

Mr Ferguson said the new arrangements were a “massive improvement on what was historically provided” and provided passengers with “comfortable, modern and accessible facilities”.