Former Casey councillor Ben Clissold is the Nightrider bus extended from Dandenong to Casey.
By Sarah Schwager and Rebecca Fraser
CASEY has a higher population of young people than any of the councils with a Nightrider bus, yet it is not serviced.
Casey Council will use these figures in its case to the State Government to extend the Dandenong service to Casey.
The municipalities with the Nightrider bus service – Dandenong, Yarra Ranges, Maroondah, Frankston, Mornington, Hume, Melton and Wyndham – range from 12,500 to 23,500 people aged between 15 and 24 years according to latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures, while Casey has a population of 28,250 in that age group.
Casey’s nightclubbers and pub goers have also been urged to sign a petition in a bid to get the Nightrider bus service out to Narre Warren and Cranbourne.
Pub-goers sick of being stranded after a long night out in Melbourne have been encouraged to put their name to the campaign that will put more pressure on the State Government to extend the late night service beyond its last stop in Dandenong.
Former Casey councillor Ben Clissold is leading the push for the service and has formed the new petition calling for urgent action.
Mr Clissold said while the Nightrider took partygoers home to places as far flung as Mornington and Melton it did not go to Berwick, Narre Warren, Endeavour Hills or Hallam, where about one in 20 Melbourne clubbers lived.
“That number is growing fast. It is important that an area with such a big population of young people that like to go out has access to this service,” Mr Clissold said.
Mr Clissold said many local party-goers had tales to tell of being stranded in the city after a long night out, unable to get a taxi back to the south eastern suburbs.
He said the closure of Narre Warren’s Furnace nightclub had exacerbated the issue, as Casey residents had fewer local nighttime venues to go to, and were instead heading to the city.
Mr Clissold said the Nightrider bus service would provide safe and affordable transport to Casey locals and could also help deter people from drink driving.
At Tuesday night’s council meeting, councillor Lorraine Wreford said Casey’s young people were not only risking their safety by driving when drunk or tired or being stranded in the city but were losing money either through taxi costs or through petrol, CityLink and parking. The Nightrider bus costs $8 a ride.
“We need to lobby the Government and the Opposition to make clear our case that we have the numbers to demand this service,” Cr Wreford said.
Councillor Wayne Smith said Casey had the fastest growing area of youth and it would be ridiculous not to support the service.
The motion was carried unanimously.
The petition is featured on Mr Clissold’s Max Moose website, which reviews and lists nightclubs and venues in and around Melbourne.
The petition can be found at www.maxmoose.com.au/rider.
