Transport row heats up

By Shaun Inguanzo
THE Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) has hit back at the State Government following what it says was a personal attack against the group’s members during the ongoing debate over the future of Greater Dandenong’s bus services.
The reaction follows an article in the Star (9 February) about the plight of elderly residents in Noble Park forced to walk up to 1.5 kilometres in varying weather conditions to access services and facilities.
PTUA outer east branch convenor Alex Makin said the residents’ transport woes highlighted the city’s need for more services or it would risk creating an underclass of citizens disadvantaged by lack of public transport.
A spokeswoman for Transport Minister Peter Batchelor responded by re-announcing one expanded and one new bus service affecting Dandenong.
She also said that the PTUA and weekend bus supporter, Keysborough Ward councillor Roz Blades, ‘are absolutely wrong and have little knowledge and interest in what is actually happening in Dandenong.’
But PTUA outer east branch convenor Alex Makin this week said he found the spokeswoman’s comments offensive.
“I personally find it insulting that a spokeswoman for Peter Batchelor would choose to attack myself or the PTUA directly,” he said.
“While residents in Melbourne’s inner suburbs such as Toorak, Malvern or Brunswick have public transport available seven days a week, the people of Greater Dandenong and indeed all of Melbourne’s outer suburbs are relegated as second-class citizens, forced to either stay indoors on a Sunday, or to spend a high proportion of their income on driving.”
Mr Makin said the State Government was ‘clearly mistaken if it believes that just two new bus services will cater for the needs of Greater Dandenong’.
“Existing bus routes lack evening and weekend services and neither of the two routes introduced by the government provide Sunday services, let alone services after 8pm during weekdays.”
Meanwhile, local residents who want an improved public transport system can attend a meeting to be held on Tuesday, 7 March at 6.30pm at the Springvale council offices.
In response to the weekend bus service, the PTUA is looking at setting up a south-east branch.
Cr Blades said 16 people had already expressed interest to start off the group.
“Hopefully, we will have a powerful force that can have discussions with Government about better transport, as well as the weekend bus service,” Cr Blades said.
To attend the meeting, contact Cr Blades on 0417 053 612.