Council stresses bus need

By Jim Mynard
CASEY Council will express concern to the Premier Steve Bracks and Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu about the lack of public transport to Casey Hospital, Berwick.
Copies of correspondence to the leaders will also be sent to ministers and shadow ministers whose responsibility covers the matter.
Springfield Ward councillor Lorraine Wreford said letters should stress the importance of the need.
“We should show that disadvantaged vulnerable people are the ones inconvenienced to the greatest extent.
“Public transport access from areas such a Cranbourne, Narre Warren, Narre Warren South, Berwick, and the Shire of Cardinia is vital.
“Buses should connect with trains that stop at Berwick station and the hospital, which is 800 metres from the station.
Cr Wreford expressed disgust to the council that a Department of Infrastructure letter to the council said the department had no knowledge of a bus shelter at the hospital.
“It is difficult to miss the fact that the hospital has a bus shelter,” she said.
She said the letter undervalued the importance of transport to a public hospital.
“This disadvantages people who do not have a car, are ill or injured.
“Taxis are doing well, but we need a bus service to the hospital as a minimum standard.”
Cr Wreford said it was timely to place pressure on both political parties on the issue and that it was important that the council fought to get residents a service they deserved.
“I have watched people walk along Kangan Drive on the way to Casey Hospital with their suitcases,” she said.
She said after the meeting that it was an insult to people that no public transport was available to such a big hospital.
Springfield Ward councillor Michael Farley said Narre Warren South MP Dale Wilson had received letters from the minister saying that there would not be enough people to patronise a bus service.
“I do not believe that.
“This is not good enough,” he said.
Edrington Ward councillor Mick Morland said the issue affected the entire city.
“We have petrol prices increasing and now many one car families.
“If the family driver is sick then the family cannot visit the person at hospital.
“Casey is an absolute joke as far a public transport is concerned.
“We also have thousands of dollars spent on a bus stop at the hospital that no one uses,” he said.
Balla Balla Ward councillor Colin Butler said it was silly to build a public hospital and not provide access from the southern part of the region.
“What is the point of having a public hospital if you don’t have public transport to it,” he said.