‘Stupid’ trial service blasted

A CASEY Councillor has attacked council plans to fund a public bus service, labelling the decision as “utterly stupid”.
Springfield Ward councillor Ben Clissold said he was angry that councillors at last week’s council meeting resolved to commit ratepayers funds to operate a bus from Cranbourne to Pearcedale for a 12month trial.
He said that while he acknowledged the service was required by residents in Casey’s south, public transport was a State Government responsibility.
“People pay taxes, petrol excise and speed camera fines to the State Government to fund public transport. It’s not meant to come from rates.
“Casey residents pay their share of taxes but are not receiving a decent bus service,” he said.
Cr Clissold claimed that every council decision to dig into its pocket on behalf of the State Government resulted in expensive rate hikes for residents.
“Casey ratepayers wonder why they pay amongst the highest rates in Victoria per dollar of property value. Utterly stupid decisions like this are the reason.
“Ratepayers in other councils are not paying high rates for expensive bus services they get their buses from taxes,” he said.
Cr Clissold said that residents would fight to keep the bus service once the 12month trial had finished, leaving council to pay for the bus forever.
“Once council starts operating this service the community won’t support it being removed and the Government knows that,” he said. “When the 12month trial ends the Government can refuse to fund it and council won’t have the courage to end it.
“What’s more, every time Casey residents request a bus service from now on the State Government will just refuse to provide it because they know the suckers in Casey Council will pay for it again.
“The community and council should have pushed the State Government much harder,” he said.
However Balla Balla Ward Cr Colin Butler hit back at Cr Clissold’s claims, stating it was nothing more than “a heap of political jargon from someone trying to build up his profile for party preselection”.
“We have been waiting for a bus service for 20 years and no government, regardless of whether it is Liberal or Labor, has listened.
“Cr Clissold needs to get out of his little igloo in Narre Warren South and have a look at the rates my residents are paying down there and the lack of services they receive in return.
“Residents in Balla Balla Ward are paying the second highest rates of any ward in Casey but the money spent on them is the lowest.
“We deserve to get some ratepayers funds in this ward,” he said.