Latest News

• Add My News • Search Old News

Russel Northe MLA:
Inequity Continues for Latrobe Valley Commuters

Still no support for public transport services and prices for Latrobe Valley commuters.

By Portal Admin - 2nd May 2019 - Back to News

Member for Morwell Russell Northe has again expressed his disappointment at the State Governments lack of support for Latrobe Valley commuters when it comes to public transport services and prices.

Earlier this year Mr Northe questioned the Minister for Public Transport in Parliament about the unfair and unjust prices Latrobe Valley students are forced to pay to travel to school when compared to students from Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and South-West Victoria, who are all eligible to obtain a discounted Regional Student pass.

"Whilst the Ministers response to my questions in Question Time was disappointing (Hansard – Latrobe Valley Transport) I was at the very least pleased to receive a hearing with the Ministers office to explain local parent’s concerns on the current inequity confronting Latrobe Valley students" Mr Northe said.

Whilst the Minister did provide an assurance the matter would be investigated further, the only response received thus far, has been from Public Transport Victoria (PTV) who state that the Latrobe Valley area is four times bigger than either Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo and that is why local students are not eligible for a Regional Student Pass.

Quotation from PTV: ‘I wish to advise Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat and Colac regional student passes cover one or two zones and are priced accordingly. However, The Latrobe Valley is up to four times larger than any other regions covered by these passes, which would make a Regional Student Pass for this region more expensive than other Regional Student Passes.’

"This response is not only incorrect but utterly unsatisfactory and I again call upon the Government to step in and fix this unfair and inequitable fare structure. If it requires a complete overhaul of public transport zones within our region to provide a fairer pricing structure then this is what the Government needs to do." said Mr Northe.

As it stands Gippsland commuters are paying more for inferior services in comparison to our major regional counterparts and this is completely unacceptable.

In addition to high public transport prices and poor services, the State Government also needs to inform Latrobe Valley commuters what its intentions are with respect to car parking commitments in and around our train station precincts.

"It has been more than two years since the State Government announced that 100 extra car spaces would be delivered for Traralgon; however only 93 were ultimately constructed, whilst 60 new car spaces were promised for Morwell station in April 2017 yet no new spaces have been delivered at this point in time" Mr Northe said.

See State Governments announcement Media Release here: https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/better-trains-stations-and-buses-for-gippsland/

I have raised this issue a number of times to the Governments attention and was previously advised that a design for a new location would be completed in the second half of 2018, with construction to be completed in 2019. (QON – Public Transport)

"I understand recent announcements have been made for an extended platform to be built at the Morwell railway station but detail is still scant on how many car spaces will be built and when" said Mr Northe.

"Latrobe Valley students deserve better, Latrobe Valley parents deserve better, and Latrobe Valley commuters deserve better than the raw deal our community is experiencing when it comes to public transport prices and quality of services" said Mr Northe.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: support@gippsland.com

If you are the author of this story you can edit it by clicking here

• Latrobe Valley to Get Residential Rehabilitation Centre under Liberal Nationals
  Access for drug or alcohol addiction rehabilitations for people in the Latrobe Valley under an elected Liberal Nationals Government.
• Latrobe Valley Information Network (LVIN)
  World’s largest real-time environmental monitoring network goes online in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria on the 1st May.
• Latrobe Valley Authority Benefiting Community
  Morwell Historical Society receives a $12,539 grant.
• Latrobe Valley Students Pay Unfair Fares
  Calls to abolish the unfair ticketing system.
• The Latrobe Valley Misses Out Under Labor, Again
  Faster rail for Ballarat and Geelong, Latrobe Valley is left out.
• Latrobe Synthetic Sports Field Pavilion Officially Opened
  Latrobe Synthetic Sports Field Pavilion was officially opened on Wednesday.
• Northe calls for ‘Latrobe Sports and Recreation Fund’ to support grassroots sport in Latrobe Valley
  Call for Latrobe Valley’s investment in sporting grounds, clubs and facilities.
• Latrobe Creative Precinct Concept Design Launched
  Concept design for the Latrobe Creative Precinct launched today!
• Latrobe City Council Elects New Mayor and Deputy Mayor
  Councillor Graeme Middlemiss elected to the position of Mayor at Latrobe City Council special meeting.
• Latrobe Creative Precinct – Sod turning Ceremony
  Commemoration: beginning of construction of the Latrobe Creative Precinct.
• Sport Loan to Help Latrobe Valley Locals Make a Splash
  A $10 million loan for the transformation of the Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre and the Traralgon Indoor Sports Stadium.
• Latrobe City Council 2019/2020 Draft Budget and Draft Rating Strategy 2019-20
  Budget draft considers investment in generational assets for population growth and enhanced liveability.
• Latrobe L2P Program: Driver mentor Program to Continue till 2023
  Continued assistance to young people with challenges in completing their 120 hours of on-road driving experience.
• Latrobe City Council Successfully Pursues Legal Action
  Legal action against two individuals in relation to breaches of the Building Act 1993
• Electrifying Boost to Jobs in the Latrobe Valley with electric car plant
  Latrobe Valley to become the capital of electric vehicle manufacturing in Australia.
• Latrobe Boost to Emergency Ambulance Arrivals
  Data shows Ambulance arrtival at the scene of emergencies two minutes quicker in the March quarter.
• Latrobe City Libraries Seeking Feedback
  Feedback needed on City Library collections.
• Northe Racing to Support Latrobe Valley Racing Club
  Russell Northe today threw his support behind the dedicated group of volunteers at Latrobe Valley Racing Club, for Traralgon Racecourse.
• Bond Backs Latrobe Special Education
  Bond asked Latrobe Valley community support campaign for a new stand-alone campus for Latrobe Special Developmental School.
• Youth Space Latrobe Seeks Ideas from Young People
  Branding the Youth Space Latrobe in Morwell welcomes ideas from the youth.
• Bond backs Latrobe drug rehabilitation facility
  Sheridan Bond calls for a dedicated drug rehabilitation centre in the Latrobe Valley.
• Traralgon College and Latrobe Special Developmental School Upgrade a Step Closer
  Hede Architects Pty Ltd appointed to design Stage 1 of the Traralgon Education Regeneration Project.
• Toll Disparity to Hit Latrobe Valley Pockets
  Disappointment as Victorians forced to fund the building of the West Gate Tunnel project.
• Stars Aligned For Latrobe in Country Cricket Coup
  Big Bash League charging into the Latrobe Valley.
• Fun and Learning at Latrobe City’s Children’s Expo
  Fun activities in the annual Latrobe City Children’s Expo on Thursday 25 October at Kernot Hall.
• Tarwin Valley Primary School Upgrade a Step Closer
  AOA Architects appointed to design a S500, 000 upgrade of the Tarwin Valley Primary School.
• Liberal Nationals will build Latrobe Special Developmental School
  A dedicated, purporse-buldt Latrobe Special Development School courtesy of an elected Nationals Government.
• Rewriting the Score – Latrobe Regional Gallery
  12 metre installation at Latrobe Regional Gallery titled REWRITING THE SCORE.
• Nominations close soon for Latrobe City’s Australia Day Awards
  2019 Australia Day Awards nominations.
• Building a Bigger and Better Latrobe Regional Hospital
  Massive expansion set for the Latrobe Regional Hospital at Traralgon.
• Bond Backs Gippsland Tertiary Education Council to Address Latrobe Valley Skill Shortage
  Discussion for the region’s shortage of diesel mechanics and the return of the Gippsland Tertiary Education Council.
• Upgraded Labtrobe Valley Sports Facilities on their Way
  Work starts in building Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre (GRAC) and Traralgon Indoor Sports Stadium transformation.
• Northe asks what RET means for Latrobe Valley
  North emphasized the need to understand associated modelling and potential impacts on Latrobe Valley workers, contractors, families and businesses with VRET.
• Northe implores Minister to support Latrobe Quarry Industry
  Russell Northe asking for action on local quarry licensing applications.
• Northe to Advocate for the Valley at Budget Time
  Russell Northe to ensure the Latrobe Valley region is not ignored when it comes to investment and new jobs for the region.
• The Bridge of No Return’ exhibition at Latrobe Regional Gallery
  Lyndal Jones at Latrobe Regional Gallery.
• Fun, Fact and The Famous at This Year’s Latrobe Literary Festival
  Diverse program mix in this year's Latrobe Literary Festival.
• #BuildingLatrobe
  A call for support for #BuildingLatrobe.
• Lighting Up Sport across the Latrobe Valley
  Installation of 300 new lux LED lights in Newborough and Traralgon.
• Northe Calls for RV Rest Site for Latrobe Valley
  Policy Initiative for a Recreational Vehicle (RV) stopover in Latrobe Valley unveiled.
• Asbestos Taskforce Kicks Off in the Latrobe Valley
  Asbestos taskforce first meeting for the Latrobe Valley.
• Drought Relief Necessary in Latrobe – Northe
  Appeal for support for farmers in drought conditions.
• Safe and Strong Latrobe
  Safe and Strong Latrobe, designed to prevent violence against women.
• Energy Programs Deliver Jobs for the Latrobe Valley
  Driving down energy prices with installation of microgrids.
• Government Support Runs Dry in Latrobe
  Drought continues with little support.
• Creating Spaces for Young People in the Latrobe Valley
  Youth-focused hub formally opens!
• Appoint of New Chief Executive Officer for Latrobe City
  Latrobe City Councillors were unanimous in their decision to appoint Steven Piasente as new Chief Executive Officer after an extensive recruitment process.
• Still a Flood of Support for Pondage
  Overflow of support to reopen Hazelwood Pondage.
• Boosting Safety and Reliability on Latrobe Roads
  Reliable and safe roads with Fixing Country Roads Program.
• Still Time to Apply For an Environmental Grant
  There is still time to submit an application for Round 2 of the East Gippsland Water-funded Native Vegetation and Habitat Creation Grants program.
• The Nationals Building a Brighter Future for Young Victorians in Latrobe Valley
  Push for improvement of school literacy and numeracy standards in the early years.
• Still Time to Have Say on Off-Leash Areas
  Calling for community support for off-leash areas.
• Backing Community Projects in Latrobe
  Support for community projects in Latrobe.
• Two Gippsland Clubs to Receive a Life Saving Debrillator
  Latrobe Valley 4WD Club and Tetoora Road Community Centre received defibrillator for medical emergencies.
• Supporting Gippsland Passengers during Autumn Blitz
  Free travel during state-wide autumn transport construction blitz.