Greens candidate for Ward 2 Kit Docker is calling on Wollongong City Council and the NSW State government to expand the Free Gong Shuttle, taking in the suburbs of Figtree and Unanderra.
Kit said the Free Gong Shuttle is hugely successful, providing millions of passengers every year with access to free and convenient public transport. With the funding arrangement for this service up for renegotiation, now is a great opportunity for both levels of government to step up so many more communities can enjoy the benefits of free public transport.
“Figtree has long suffered from being a car dependent suburb in real need of transport alternatives,” Kit said. “Without alternatives many residents who don’t drive have their mobility restricted while those who do drive are faced with more congestion and longer commutes.
“Expanding the gong shuttle to Figtree will help ease congestion, provide residents with cost of living relief, ease air & noise pollution and enable greater mobility.”
Greens candidate for Lord Mayor and Ward 1 Jess Whittaker said it’s about time we extended this vital service to our southern communities. “For too long this has been a central and northern suburbs service with little regard for those residents who are doing it tough in the southern suburbs,” Jess said.
“It’s not fair that the council has to foot the bill for a great free shuttle for all people. We should be asking the State government to increase the funding so we can provide a free Gong Shuttle to our two southern suburbs and help them in these times when cost of living and housing affordability is causing many people real pain.
“If Kit, Deidre Stuart and myself are elected to Council we will work to make the State government increase the free Gong shuttle. If you want free and fair public transport in the south it’s important that you vote Greens at the Council election.”
Visit our website for more on the Greens Transport policy.
[Pictured above are Greens candidates Deidre Stuart for Ward 3, Jess Whittaker for Ward 1 and Lord Mayor, Sue Higginson, Greens MLC, and Kit Docker, candidate for Ward2.]