The Opposition is strengthening its calls to improve public transport services in Mount Gambier, particularly when it comes to bus services.
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Vincent Tarzia, who spoke at the Bus SA Conference in Adelaide on Saturday, said Mount Gambier residents continue to express disappointment over their “deteriorating” public transport system, which “is failing to meet the needs of the city’s 27,000 residents”.
“Peter Malinauskas recently had the opportunity to elevate the standard of services in the Blue Lake City, but instead he’s locked Mount Gambier into an eight-year contract, only planning to review the service after the fact,” he said.
“Peter Malinauskas promised to make the Limestone Coast a priority, but his actions speak louder than words.
“The current bus service in Mount Gambier is outdated, and its restricted hours makes it difficult for people to get to work or study, and just simply is not available on the weekend at all.
“Eight years is far too long to wait for better public transport, the people of Mount Gambier deserve better services now.”
Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional South Australia and Mount Gambier local Ben Hood said the “inadequate service is holding the city back”.
“Mount Gambier is growing, and to keep thriving we need good public transport services,” he said.
“Decent bus services should not be seen as a luxury, and right now key locations like the university, TAFE, the local hospital and Foodbank are not served or barely served at all.
“Signing an eight-year contract only to then review the service is counter-intuitive.
“Worse, this contract offers no flexibility for the new operators to extend services to essential areas like Hallmont Estate and Woodlands Grove retirement villages.
“It’s time for Tom Koutsantonis and Peter Malinauskas to stop paying lip service to our regions and make a real investment in Mount Gambier to ensure our city’s growth.
“I encourage every single person in Mount Gambier to tell the Malinauskas Government that our second biggest city, with a population of 27,000 people, deserves infrastructure that will grow our regions, like good public transport.”
Click here to have your say on the state of public transport in Mount Gambier.
