Keysborough left off the buses

By Lia Bichel
GREATER Dandenong’s neighbours will receive almost $5 million in improved bus services, while local residents miss out.
State Minister for Public Transport Martin Pakula failed to name any new transport services to the City of Greater Dandenong when he announced last week new bus services and improvements to 10 existing bus routes across Cardinia Shire and Casey.
City of Greater Dandenong mayor Jim Memeti said Mr Pakula ignored the needs of many residents.
“The council applauds the State Government’s initiative in expanding and improving services in Cardinia and Casey. Unfortunately the Minister has ignored the needs of Greater Dandenong residents and workers,” he said.
“While the Minister announced new services for residents in Casey and Cardinia, he completely ignored the needs of the 3600 new households in Keysborough.
“No further services have been announced for workers trying to access jobs offered in Dandenong South, and residents in Greater Dandenong’s other suburbs will continue to suffer from sub standard services.”
The changes were developed following the Department of Transport Cardinia/Casey and Casey/Greater Dandenong Bus Service Review.
The review contains recommendations developed after consultation with community members, local bus operators, the councils and VicRoads.
Mr Pakula said more than 100 community members made submissions and attended workshops to have their say.
Cr Roz Blades, who is the Eastern Transport Coalition (ETC) representative, said it was “embarrassing” that the City of Greater Dandenong was invited to the review in 2008 which did not include services in the area.
“We shouldn’t have been invited, they should have left us off the document,” she said. “The review has been sitting on the Minister’s desk for two years and things have worsened since then.”
Cr Blades said the council would need to step up its lobbying to the government for improved services.
“We have some people who can’t even get to the Dandenong Hospital,” she said.
Mayor Memeti said the council was calling on the government to implement a standing bus review that responds to the city’s changing needs.
“We also call for the government to reconsider their decision in ignoring the needs of the growing residential areas in Keysborough and to provide public transport to further resident’s employment opportunities in Dandenong South,” he said.