Greens call for shuttle bus service expansion

NSW Greens MP, Dr Mehreen Faruqi visited Wollongong today to join Wollongong Greens Council candidates calling for the free 'gong shuttle' bus service to be expanded to have more frequent services, and to include Wollongong's disadvantaged southern suburbs.

MEDIA RELEASE: GREENS CALL FOR SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE EXPANSION

She is also calling on the NSW Transport Minister to rule out introducing fees for the free service.

"The Wollongong Shuttle bus service has been a resounding success as a public transport initiative - so much so that it is consistently so crowded it cannot take on more passengers," Cath Blakey, Greens candidate for Ward 2 said today.

"People are often left waiting for long periods of time as one, two or even three busses fail to stop because they cannot fit any more passengers," Ms Blakey said.

Dr Faruqi said: "The Government must address the overcrowding by increasing the number of buses, not by trying to discourage use of the service by introducing fares.

'"The free shuttle should also be extended south to include suburbs like Warrawong, Lake Heights and Berkeley.

"Warrawong is one of Australia’s and the region’s most disadvantaged socio-economic suburbs, and it is very poorly served by public transport.

"The Government’s Illawarra Regional Transport Plan, released in March 2014, mentioned the need for another free shuttle bus for the Illawarra in the medium to longer term. But how long does that actually mean? It could be years away," Dr Faruqi said.

Extending the shuttle bus south would ensure:

Much easier and more frequent access to important transport destinations including Port Kembla Hospital and services including medical practices.
Much more frequent access to shopping centres.
The potential to revitalise businesses on Wentworth Street, Port Kembla.
More frequent transport links to Wollongong for workers and especially younger people looking for work.

More information: Mithra Cox 0425 351 844