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Strong Support For Continuation Of Night RiderThe Night Rider bus service has received a temporary reprieve while a permanent source of funding to continue the service is sought. By Latrobe City Council - 1st July 2009 - Back to News The strong support for the service by way of a recent financial contribution from Road Safe Latrobe and the Linking Latrobe Transport Connections has ensured the Night Rider bus service can continue for another five weeks.
Road Safe Latrobe develops local community road safety initiatives that support state and local government programs.
The Linking Latrobe Transport Connections program involves partnerships between members of the community, including state and local government, the community and voluntary transport sector, existing community or health networks and public and private transport providers.
Latrobe City councillor and chair of the Traralgon CBD Safety Committee, Cr Rohan Fitzgerald, said Road Safe Latrobe and the Linking Latrobe Transport Connections had expressed strong support for the continuation of the Nightrider bus service.
"That support has recently been translated into generous donations that will provide a temporary reprieve to keep this important service running.
"The Traralgon CBD Safety Committee welcomes this temporary funding initiative and urges a speedy resolution from the state government to find a permanent funding solution to keep this valuable service operating," Cr Fitzgerald said.
The Night Rider bus has been very popular and to date has transported 535 patrons safety from the Traralgon CBD to their home towns.
Support for a continuation of the service and for in support of applications for a permanent funding solution is coming from many stakeholders in a safer Traralgon CBD.
Senior Sergeant Brendon Scully, Traralgon Police, stated in a recent support letter that the Night Rider service had a positive effect upon community safety in two aspects.
"Firstly, it removes people who may be affected by alcohol from crowd situations and therefore alleviates or minimises the opportunity for them to become either perpetrators or victims of crime. Secondly, it provides an alternative means of transportation for such people, therefore reducing the incidence of drink driving and its horrendous consequences," Senior Sergeant Scully said.
Latrobe City Mayor Cr Lisa Price has already written to the Hon Lynne Kosky, MP Minister for Public Transport for the Night Rider to be funded and continue on an ongoing basis.
Jillian Hanley, acting coordinator community development is Latrobe City’s representative on the Traralgon Liquor Accord, and will take the issue of ongoing funding to the next Liquor Accord meeting.
In the meantime, the Night Rider bus service will continue to move night owls out of the Traralgon central business district as soon as possible in the early hours of a Sunday morning to increase safety.
The bus will continue to provide three trips. The Night Rider leaving at 2:30am and 4:30am will drop patrons off at MidValley, Gunns Gully, Morwell and Moe Railway Stations; the 3:30am service will take patrons to Churchill.
Coupons to use the service can be purchased for $5 and are available through late night venues and all Latrobe City service centres.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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