Funds turn bus wheels

PAKENHAM has been given the biggest ever injection of funds for public transport improvements in the Cardinia region.
Transport Minister Peter Batchelor on Monday announced $2.6 million for muchneeded bus improvements.
Improvements for Cardinia include:
Route 926 (Berwick to Pakenham) will be a new hourly service to replace route 826. It will run from Berwick Station to Pakenham via Duncan Drive, also servicing Lakeside Boulevard and the northeastern areas of Pakenham along Army Road.
Route 927 (Pakenham) will be a new route servicing the northwestern part of Pakenham.
Route 928 (Pakenham) will be a new route servicing the area of Pakenham south of the railway line.
“These fantastic announcements will mean that residents across the Shire of Cardinia and Pakenham particularly will have easier access to a host of essential services,” Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato said.
“These new and improved services will provide better links between suburbs and between particular localities within suburbs.”
Public transport in Pakenham has previously been described by residents and Opposition MPs as sadly lacking.
Mr Batchelor acknowledged during his visit on Monday that more needed to be done, but said the State Government was looking closely at public transport situation in the local area.
Ms Lobato said the priorities with the new and improved services were to provide bus services for areas with no existing services; to alleviate problems with overcrowding on some routes; and to extend the operating hours of existing services.
“The Minister has revealed that today’s announcement will mean that 71 per cent of residents will have access to bus services within 400 metres of their home,” she said.
“This is a dramatic increase from the 39 per cent of residents who have this now.”
Cardinia Shire mayor Garry Runge described the State Government funding as a good start, but said more work was needed, particularly in areas north and south of Pakenham.
Ms Lobato, who recently raised the issue of a new train station for Pakenham in State Parliament, said further announcements were expected next year.