After much campaigning I am pleased to announce that Sunday bus services will be operating along Maroondah Highway. This is a victory for the community and will ensure that residents of Maroondah and the Yarra Ranges living near the major thoroughfare of Maroondah Highway will be able to use public transport on a Sunday.

While evening and more frequent services are still required, an hourly Sunday service will provide greater mobility for residents and will hopefully be the beginning of further improvements.

FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
Media Release – Thursday, October 13, 2005

Sunday Bus Service – A Victory For the Community

Public transport campaigner and council candidate Alex Makin has welcomed the announcement of funding for Sunday services along Maroondah Highway.

“Funding for Sunday bus services along Maroondah Highway will finally provide services seven days per week along this major thoroughfare connecting Ringwood, Croydon, Chirnside Park and Lilydale”, Alex Makin said. “This is a victory for the community and a triumph for the lobbying I along with others provided through both the Public Transport Users Association and the Ringwood Transit City Community Coalition”.

In 2004 Mr. Makin through the PTUA and RTCCC identified the need for Sunday bus services along Maroondah Highway as an urgent priority, (Blast Over City’s Bus Services, Maroondah Leader, 26th October 2004) with repeated lobbying throughout 2005 (Group mad over axing three key bus routes, Maroondah Leader, 9th August 2005).

The need for better services along Maroondah Highway was identified in a Maroondah specific public transport submission authored by Mr. Makin and sent to Planning Minister Rob Hulls, Treasurer John Brumby, and Transport Minister Peter Batchelor and formed the basis of a preliminary response to the Maroondah Integrated Transport Strategy:

“Immediate introduction of evening and Sunday services for route 670 along Maroondah Highway connecting Ringwood, Croydon, Chirnside Park and Lilydale as well as smaller shopping precincts and Cherry Tree Retirement Village. Route 670 along Maroondah Highway must be included as part of the Principal Public Transport Network (PPTN)” (p8, Moving Maroondah, Alex Makin, 23rd May 2005).

“It has taken a lot of effort and required continued persistence but it finally appears that our dedication has provided results. Maroondah Highway will soon have bus services seven days per week.” Mr. Makin said.

“This upgrade is just the beginning, as it is imperative that Maroondah Highway, Canterbury Road and Wonga Road bus services become part of the PPTN as this would ensure services from early morning to midnight seven days per week. I will continue in my efforts to ensure that further bus improvements become reality, with rising petrol prices the success of Ringwood and Croydon will depend on better public transport”, Mr. Makin concluded.

About Alex Makin – A Proven Community Advocate:

Alex Makin is a candidate for Loughnan’s Hill Ward in the 2005 Maroondah Council Elections. Mr. Makin is founder of the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) Outer East Branch and former spokesperson of the RTCCC. Mr. Makin is particularly focused on planning, transport and community participation issues within Maroondah.

ALL MEDIA COMMENTS: ALEX MAKIN ON 0409 136 213

ENDS