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Northe Appeals To Keep Nightrider Wheels Turning

Nationals MP Russell Northe has taken the fight for funds for Latrobe Valley’s NightRider service to Parliament.

By Russell Northe - 12th June 2009 - Back to News

The Member for Morwell told Parliament that the future of the Latrobe Valley’s NightRider bus service remained in jeopardy due to a lack of commitment from the Brumby government, despite the success of a trial period the Labor government previously declined to support.

"This important initiative disperses patrons from the Traralgon entertainment precinct to the neighbouring townships of Morwell, Moe and Churchill on Saturday evenings and was implemented to not only reduce the incidence of assaults and antisocial behaviour but also provide an important transport link to those residents of the aforementioned townships," he explained.

Mr Northe said 389 patrons have been safely transported from Traralgon’s entertainment precinct through the trial thus far, without one negative incident.

The Transport Minister advised Mr Northe last year that her government would not support a trial, as she believed it would fail.

"Now that the Latrobe community has proven her to be wrong, the Minister must put her pride aside and back a continuation of the service," Mr Northe said.

"This is a wonderful initiative supported by local stakeholders and the wider community and worthy of ongoing support from this government.

"It is a major disappointment that the Brumby government does not deem regional Victoria worthy enough to allocate funding for such an important initiative, yet $2.8 million is allocated in the budget to the metropolitan areas of Victoria for a NightRider service."

Mr Northe has made formal representations to the Transport Minister and will continue to support the Traralgon CBD Safety Committee’s endeavours to secure ongoing funds.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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