Grant to help public transport access

TRANSPORT access for Casey’s coastal residents was the focus at a function in Cranbourne last week.
Victorian Communities Minister Peter Batchelor announced a $358,000 Bringing It Together project for Casey and Cardinia, which is designed to improve access to transport for isolated residents in the two municipalities.
Casey mayor Colin Butler and Cardinia Shire mayor Kate Lempriere also spoke at the Old Shire offices but after the event Cr Lempriere questioned how much difference the grant would make in terms of making desperately needed improvements to public transport.
“I certainly welcome the funding but $358,800 spread between two growth-corridor councils is not going to go very far,” Cr Lempriere said. “We need at least another $1 million.”
Mr Batchelor said the project would make better use of existing assets and services, such as community buses, volunteer drivers, taxis and route buses to provide transport options for people without a car.
“Investing in public transport infrastructure needs to go hand in hand with some new approaches, including having a detailed look at services in remote and isolated areas and working to improve them at a micro level,” Mr Batchelor said.
In Casey, the project will focus on the communities of Tooradin, Blind Bight, Cannons Creek, Warneet, Pearcedale, Clyde, Devon Meadows and Lysterfield South.
Cr Lempriere said people were pouring into the local area and the councils were crying out for improvements to the rail network and public transport system.
“I appreciate the State Government is making a contribution but we need more than lip service, we need action.”
A State Government spokesman said the new Brumby Government was committed to improving public transport in the area.
Bringing it Together will be managed by the City of Casey in partnership with Cardinia Shire and a number of local community organisations and transport providers, including Outlook and the Cardinia Casey Community Health Service.