By Alison Noonan
A GIANT step has been taken to bridge the isolation gap felt by residents in Pearcedale and the coastal villages.
Casey Council will undertake a joint venture with Centro Cranbourne shopping centre to provide a public bus service for residents in the city’s south.
Councillors at Tuesday night’s council meeting agreed to proceed with the 12month trial, which will see a new route established between Cranbourne and Pearcedale.
The council has allocated $174,000 and Centro $20,000 to have the new service operational by 1 December.
Mayfield Ward councillor Kevin Bradford said the longawaited service would mean Pearcedale residents no longer had to travel via Frankston to get to Cranbourne by bus.
“This is a huge step forward to providing better public transport services to isolated residents,” he said.
“This will be a regular public bus service that will enable greater connectivity between Cranbourne and the coastal villages and Pearcedale.
“At the moment there are no direct routes from Pearcedale to Cranbourne, which highlights the fact that there is an inadequate public bus service in Casey’s south,” Cr Bradford said.
He said following the trial, the council would have “undisputable proof” to show the State Government the service was required.
“Hopefully then the State Government will take over funding and make the bus a permanent service,” he said.
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