Loddon Shire Council - B-Line Getting Around Bendigo and Loddon

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Page Last Updated:
Friday, 20 November 2009

Home>Community>Loddon Programs>B-Line Getting Around Bendigo and Loddon

B-Line Getting Around Bendigo and Loddon

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The Loddon Shire Council in conjunction with the City of Greater Bendigo recently received State Government funding for a Transport Connections initiative to develop local transport solutions to support our community. The project will run for three years and aims to improve and promote existing transport options by making better use of existing assets and services, such as taxis, school buses, community buses, and volunteers.

TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS FOR LODDON AND BENDIGO

Transport options for some of the most isolated residents in the Loddon and Bendigo region is set to improve, thanks to a $370,000 funding boost from the State Government.

Minister for Victorian Communities, Mr Peter Batchelor who launched the B-Line Transport Connections project earlier this year said that the project, funded over three years, will help to develop solutions to local transport problems by making better use of existing assets and services, such as taxis, school buses, community buses, and volunteers. “It will help assist older residents to gain the independence to attend appointments and participate in community activities; help young people to travel to their place of study or work; support healthcare access to Indigenous citizens; and improve access to transport for people with a disability,” he said.

Mr Peter Abraham, Chief Executive Officer of Boort District Hospital has been elected the inaugural chairperson of the B-Line steering committee. According to Mr Abraham, the project will bring together residents and representatives from Bendigo and Loddon councils and community agencies such as Bendigo Health and North Central Local Learning and Employment Network

Two part time transport coordinators have been appointed and are about to start the projects community engagement plan with one person representing the Bendigo region and another for Loddon region. According to Mr Abraham, “This project is very much about listening to the community to learn of its needs and assets in relation to getting around in Bendigo and Loddon.”

The B-Line transport connections coordinator for Loddon is Mr Glynn Jarrett. Glynn, who has a strong background in community engagement and planning, explained how he wanted to hear from any persons in the Loddon Shire community who wished to discuss their transport challenges or ideas. “One of my first priorities is to facilitate a network of people from throughout the shire who can be the projects “champions”. These will be the community members who know what is happening on the ground, are aware of their local transport issues, and want to contribute towards the solutions! If this sounds like you please do not hesitate to contact me at the Serpentine office of Loddon Shire Council. Full contact details and more information can be found at http://gettingaroundloddon.com.au.

Press release: New Transport Trials approved for loddon Shire

	B-Line has received funding for three new Bus Service Trials for the region that will commence in coming weeks. Chairman of the B-Line Steering Committee, Mr Peter Abraham said the trials are the result of the extensive community engagement carried out last year. “It was marvellous to learn first hand from the community what the needs were and then to work closely with community focus groups to see how we might fill those needs. It was hard work for all concerned, but it has paid off. What we now need to do is, utilise the new services and prove how much we need them, so that they become a regular part of public transport for Loddon Shire and Bendigo”. The Mayor Cr Christine Brooke, explained how one of the new services addresses a need to provide a Saturday transport service for Loddon Shire from Boort to Bendigo, following the Boort Wedderburn Road to Wedderburn and then along the Calder Highway into Bendigo. “This trial service will give better access to Bendigo’s recreation/social opportunities and access to Bendigo’s urban bus system and train services onto Melbourne.” Also exciting is that the new service will allow new opportunities for Bendigonians and those travelling by train from Melbourne to visit friends and families here in Loddon, because the service will also be travelling out this way in the morning and back to Bendigo in the afternoon. A second and third trial service will operate from Tarnagulla, taking people from Southern Loddon Shire region to Inglewood on Thursdays and to Maryborough on Fridays. One excited community member who has worked tirelessly to get these two services off the ground is Jan Sharman. Jan told us how the two services will be travelling around many of our small communities such as Laanecoorie and Arnold who have absolutely no transport options at present. “It’s just marvellous; this will open up a world of opportunities for people who are extremely isolated.” Mr Glynn Jarrett, the B-Line Transport Connections Officer for Loddon Shire said the successful outcomes were very positive and that the new services will help many people get around Loddon Shire, and into Bendigo and onto Melbourne. “There is something here for everyone, and it’s important that we all realise that we have to use these trial services or lose them. It’s that simple, use it or lose it!” Timetables are to be distributed very shortly and will also be included in future additions of news papers and local news letters. Glynn told us the way the community has supported the Transport Connections Program has been outstanding and the results demonstrate how community engagement can lead to positive community outcomes. Glynn said, “the work of B-Line has only just begun and that a recent state government announcement that funds of 80 million dollars are being made available to extend the life of the Transport Connections Programs across the state is extremely encouraging”.

BLine Coordinator for Loddon Shire Council is

Mr. Glynn Jarrett

37 Peppercorn Way

Serpentine

P.O. Box 62

3517

gjarrett@loddon.vic.gov.au

Phone 5437 7911

Mobile 0447586640

Fax: 5437 8407

http://gettingaroundloddon.com.au

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