Town bus extension hits a roadblock
Public pleas for an extra intra-town bus service in Warragul have run into a roadblock.
The “stop” sign was put up by the State Department of Transport when it stated there is no money to pay for it.
Warragul Bus Lines’ general manager Phil Radford said the company, already contracted by Public Transport Victoria to provide services in Warragul and Drouin, could operate the proposed new route tomorrow if given the go ahead.
It would link the centre of the town and rapidly developing areas to the north and east.
“No funding” was the reason given earlier this month by the State Department of Transport to a disappointed Mr Radford.
The bus line had put a detailed plan of a route including suggested locations for new bus stops and timetables for travel to and from Warragul railway station via the town centre, Victoria St-Brandy Creek Rd, Stoddarts, Mills and Copelands Rds, Hazel Drive and Queen St.
It would have included stops to service the new St Angela of the Cross Catholic primary school on Mills Rd set to open at the start of new school year, the Flavorite farm in Copelands Rd and Warragul Business Park that includes Bunnings, Kmart and a number of other outlets.
Mr Radford said locations of 17 new bus stops had been suggested in addition to 10 that currently exist on the proposed route within the town and on Victoria St and Stoddarts Rd.
It intended to operate 21 services on each weekday, the first at 5.20am and the last finishing at 7.15pm, and 14 services on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
Mr Radford had initially put the proposal in May to Public Transport Victoria and Member for Eastern Victoria, Harriet Shing.
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He said Ms Shing gave the impression she was supportive and would refer the matter to the relevant Minister but he has heard nothing since.
Late last month Mr Radford provided further details to PTV’s Traralgon based regional manager Eastern Victoria Wayne Berryman, but a week later was informed by Mr Berryman that the Department of Transport had stated “currently there is no funding available”.
Nor was there any money for other changes to address circuitous routes, poor span of hours and population growth in Warragul.
Mr Radford said there were requests received daily by Warragul Bus Lines for the new service.
“Many workers at Flavorite arrive at Warragul by public transport from outside the immediate local area but have no connecting service to their employment and the new Catholic school also is seeking service”.
There was also a significant number of young people employed in businesses at Warragul Business Park including casual after school workers, he added.
Warragul Bus Lines has operated four intratown services at Warragul and two at Drouin as well as one between the two towns under contract to PTV since May 2017.
Like all public transport services they are heavily subsidised, Mr Radford says.
We don’t’ get any of the fares that are paid on myki cards with the money going straight to Melbourne, he said.
Mr Radford said the bus line had a spare vehicle and staff available to use if given the go ahead for the proposed new service.
He said it would create an extra 2.5 to 3.0 full time driver positions.
If the department is looking for job creation projects than can be implemented quickly we can be ready to go at a moment’s notice, Mr Radford added.
He said the company would continue to push the case for the service.