2015-12-09
Ms DUNN (Eastern Metropolitan) — My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Public Transport. The action I request is that she commit to extending the Camperdown–Timboon bus service to Port Campbell. Buses are an essential service for small towns in regional Victoria. For long suffering residents, if bus services exist at all they are the only form of public transport available. Buses also provide access to jobs and education and develop stronger and more interconnected communities. Buses are also vital for football and netball clubs, surf lifesaving clubs, country women’s associations, men’s sheds and other arts, cultural, sporting and social organisations.
Port Campbell is a small township of about 700 people and is between Warrnambool and Cape Otway. Currently to get from Port Campbell to Colac, Geelong or Melbourne, residents must travel 65 kilometres west to Warrnambool, alight and connect with services travelling east. There is a northward bus service, but this stops at Timboon, only 17 kilometres from Port Campbell. Extending this bus service would save Port Campbell residents up to 2 hours on their travel time to Melbourne.
After a community campaign to extend the bus network, Public Transport Victoria committed to the extension. However, according to reports in the Warrnambool Standard, Public Transport Victoria has now reversed its support for the proposal. Port Campbell residents demand that this service be extended. I call on the Minister for Public Transport to commit to this small extension to the Camperdown–Timboon bus service.