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Hall Calls For Release Of South Gippsland Rail StudyThe results of a scoping study into South Gippsland’s rail services, undertaken by the State Government more than 12 months ago, need to be released as soon as possible according to local MP, Peter Hall. By Peter Hall - 6th June 2007 - Back to News Mr Hall has called for the results of the study to be made public as a matter of urgency so local authorities know what to plan for.
On a recent tour of the South Gippsland area, the lack of public transport services in the region was raised by the South Gippsland Shire, Mr Hall told Parliament.
"It highlights the fact that public transport services in country Victoria are severely lacking," The Nationals’ MP said. "We have only a limited number of services. Even the so-called fast trains have done little to alleviate the public transport needs in parts of country Victoria.
"Radial transport links are very sporadic. When you are talking about services from, say, the Latrobe Valley across to South Gippsland, very few services meet the needs of people wishing to travel within the region.
"Of course we are all well aware that the state government promised - solemnly promised! – to return train services to Leongatha."
That promise has not been delivered, he added.
"Moreover, a scoping study was undertaken by the state government more than 12 months ago to look into the feasibility of the return of the rail service, and still neither council nor anybody else has been able to ascertain the status of that scoping study, much less make it available.
"Council requested our assistance in trying to get a copy of the study or at least in finding out where it is up to. It would be nice if the Minister for Public Transport were able to give us some indications on that."
Mr Hall added that the development of other transport needs within the region were on hold pending the results of the study.
"Before finalising those particular matters, there needs to be some resolution of whether a train service is going to be returned or not. I call on the government to provide details of that scoping study into the return of rail services to South Gippsland and I think that needs to be done as a matter of urgency."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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