Transport boost ‘by end of year’

By Dion Teasdale
OUTER East Labor MPs are hopeful of further public transport improvements for the Yarra Valley by the end of the year.
Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato, Evelyn MP Heather McTaggart and Seymour MP Ben Hardman have been lobbying Transport Minister Peter Batchelor for additional bus services.
Ms Lobato said the Yarra Ranges was one of 12 areas across the state to be included in a four year $44 million funding boost to public transport announced by the Bracks Governments in May this year. She said $10 million of the funding would be spent this financial year and that she had been working closely with her colleagues to identify funding priorities for public transport in the Outer East.
“Heather, Ben and I have been working together closely to sort out the public transport priorities for the Yarra Valley and have been lobbying hard for improvements,” Ms Lobato said.
“We have been engaged in ongoing meetings with the Minister and things are progressing well.
“We are anticipating some of the priorities for our areas will be included in funding announcements to be made in the very near future.”
Ms Lobato said her priority had been on adding new bus services on established routes in the Upper Yarra area. “I have been discussing with the Minister routes that are affected by overcrowding and the need to improve services for areas that have had population growth,” she said.
Ms Lobato said she had also been lobbying for the establishment of one new bus route, for more additional after hours bus services and to address service gaps on weekdays.
Mr Hardman said he was confident funding could be found to extend services over a longer period of time across the outer east area.
“It is pleasing to see that more money is being spent on public transport across the state and I am optimistic of improvements in our region,” he said.
Mr Hardman said he would like to see further additional services added to the 685 bus, the Healesville to Lilydale via Yarra Glen service.
Ms McTaggart said she had been focused on addressing gaps in bus services in Lilydale and along the Warburton Highway.
“I’ve identified that there are some pockets of my electorate that need extra services and I’m hopeful these pockets will be taken care of,” she said.