Bus approved

CASEY residents with special needs could benefit from an extra community bus providing door-to-door service.
Casey Council decided at its Tuesday meeting to consider funding an additional community bus for residents in its 2006/07 draft budget.
The money for the bus would come from the savings from buying a cheaper mayor’s car, reducing ward dinners and potential savings through reduced promotional expenditure.
Mayfield Ward councillor Steve Beardon said an additional community bus would provide door-to-door pick-up for people with special needs such as retirees and residents with a disability.
Cr Beardon said while six community buses already existed, another bus would target those who were most in need.
He said the money saved in downgrading the mayormobile could be used to invest in a bus or something similar for the community.
But Casey mayor Kevin Bradford said the decision cut expenditure on the mayormobile and other reductions were designed to reduce council expenditure.
He said by using that money to buy a community bus, the council would simply be moving those savings, which removed council’s plan to reduce its expenditure.
Cr Beardon also questioned whether community buses were being promoted and targeted enough in the community to ensure maximum use.