Dear Councillors of the City of Greater Dandenong:

RE: COUNCIL FUNDED WEEKEND BUS SERVICES

I write as the Outer East Branch Convener of the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) in urging you, as an elected councillor for the City of Greater Dandenong, to continue in supporting and funding the weekend council funded bus services.

While I acknowledge that the funding of public transport is typically a State Government responsibility, I do respectfully ask for your support to continue council funding of the two services through to June 2006. The continuation of these services through to June 2006 would provide sufficient time to lobby the State Government to fund these and additional services as part of its upcoming Transport and Liveability Statement.

As a resident of Melbourne’s outer east, I can personally attest to the benefits that these services would provide to the people of Greater Dandenong through enhancing social inclusion and ensuring mobility to employment.

The Public Transport Users Association (PTUA) stands ready and willing to assist the City of Greater Dandenong in lobbying for better public transport, including extending the operating hours and frequencies of the bus network. Recent successes achieved by the PTUA include a government commitment to the Ringwood to Frankston SmartBus, a service that was seen as a priority for both the Cities of Knox and Greater Dandenong.

Time is required however to mobilise a strong advocacy campaign for these services and other much needed improvements in Melbourne’s southeast. I therefore ask again ask for your support in securing the funding for these two council funded services until June 2006.

I welcome further discussion on this and other transport issues. I can be contacted on 0409 136 213 or via e-mail alex.makin@ptua.org.au.

Yours Sincerely,

Cr. Alex Makin
Outer East Branch Convener
Public Transport Users Association