Getting a bus to TAFE in Kingscliff from Mullum is a three hour journey – and doesn’t take into account the time you might need to get there or that you might want to get home. And that’s if you don’t have to get to town to in the first place. This is the type of challenge that many young people and people without vehicles face in the Northern Rivers; there is a lack of public transport that can get people to educational and work facilities in a timely manner or get them home at the end of the day.
This week has seen the NSW government run a series if public forums in Murwillumbah and Lismore, the Bus Industry Taskforce, to hear first hand about local bus issues.
‘Bus services carry 40 per cent of all public transport passengers but receive only two per cent of capital expenditure in transport,’ said member for Lismore Janelle Saffin.
‘The Taskforce today released its second report outlining plans to fix the deterioration of bus services including:
- addressing more than a decade of neglect of investment in school and local bus services
- a plan for the rollout of zero emission buses
- modern, fit for purpose bus contracts in the regions.
‘The report recognises that bus services in rural and regional areas have not been given the same degree of attention as services in Sydney,’ she said.
Get your voice heard
The challenges that people face across the region need to be heard and you can still provide feedback to the taskforce until 31 March.
‘This week’s public forums in the Northern Rivers have provided valuable information and insights into our transport needs,’ said Ms SAffin.
‘This will inform the Taskforce’s final report which is due to be presented to the Government in May.’
Anyone who missed the forums can also email the taskforce directly with their input: [email protected] or provide feedback through a survey or submission at this site until 31 March at: https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/bus-industry-taskforce
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