The Yarram community with the support of The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien is petitioning the State Government to establish a bus service between Sale and Yarram.
Mr O’Brien said he was acutely aware of the need for better, more reliable public transport across much of the Gippsland region and was hopeful this petition would result in at the very least, a trial return bus route from Sale to Yarram to gauge the level of demand.
“Currently the only option for public transport offered by VLine in Yarram is a two and a half hours bus ride to Melbourne via Leongatha three times a day.
“A Turnbull Bus will get you to Traralgon but there’s nothing to get you to Sale other than a taxi or a circuitous journey involving buses and trains.
“It’s poor that residents in a town in the Wellington Shire can’t access public transport to get to the town where the Shire offices are located.
“Sale is an important commercial and administrative centre for people in Yarram, as well as a key sporting, recreational, educational and cultural hub.
“And of course Sale is also home to key medical services that are critical to many in Yarram, particularly given the on-going difficulty sourcing enough GPs in Yarram.”
Mr O’Brien said despite having consistently written to the numerous Ministers who had been assigned the Public Transport portfolio over the years, he had received no indication that the Andrews Labor Government had any intention of implementing the oft-requested service route.
“In 2016 I wrote to the then Public Transport Minister, Jacinta Allan and was told that PTV (Public Transport Victoria) were liaising with stakeholders.
“In 2018 I was told Transport for Victoria was regularly reviewing the framework and in 2019 the then Minister, Melissa Horne assured me that the Department of Transport was continuing to monitor demand for services.
“It is clear that a petition is needed to show the Minister for Public Transport the demand for this service from our local community.”
Mr O’Brien said the petition was available in local venues around Yarram as well as online at https://www.dannyobrienmp.com.au/issue/yarram-public-transport/.