Polwarth electorate bus services
Mr RIORDAN (Polwarth) (09:45): I wish to bring to the house’s attention the marvellous work of Juliet Beatty from Deans Marsh. Juliet has worked with the Lorne, Deans Marsh and Colac communities to present a petition this week to the Parliament, requesting that the Legislative Assembly extend the bus service that operates between Colac, Birregurra, Deans Marsh and Lorne to a daily service. Juliet has been campaigning for this service for a long time. It is a service that currently operates over the summer months and is of huge benefit to local businesses, to the elderly and to the young people who want to go between Lorne and Colac for obvious reasons: health care, education and employment. It is not only Juliet who is very passionate about the bus service but also a great list of others who have sent and provided letters of support. That includes the Deans Marsh Community Cottage, the Lorne Business & Tourism Association, youth workers, the Lorne P–12 school, local real estate agents and the Committee for Lorne. These groups and that community are most keen that the Minister for Public Transport receives this petition and is able to look very favourably upon increasing a year-round service to Lorne. With a housing affordability crisis along the coast, it is urgent that we help local businesses and communities stay better connected and take full advantage of what opportunities are in the region.