Pre-poll promises flood

By Russell Bennett
THE State Opposition’s flood of pre-election promises has continued to flow into the hills.
Liberal public transport spokesman Terry Mulderhas pledged to extend the Labor Government’s 12-month Monbulk to Olinda bus trial to three years, should the Coalition come away with a win in the November polls.
“Public transport services in the Dandenong Ranges are far from adequate, and the Coalition welcomes this trial of a new bus service,” Mr Mulder said.
Eastern Transport Coalition chairwoman and Yarra Ranges councillor Samantha Dunn said “the hills community deserves certainty and the route should be properly implemented, not just trialled.”
“This service should at least meet the state’s minimum operating standards for buses,” Cr Dunn said.
“But we’re nowhere near that for most established buses, let alone trial ones.”
Liberal candidate for Monbulk Matt Mills said the Monbulk-Olinda route should be extended through to Emerald.
“From the residents I have spoken to, there is a strong community view that the route should be,” he said. Mr Mills said the coalition would look into expanding the route if it came into power next month.
“The extension of the route to Emerald will certainly be considered in any broader review of transport services in the Dandenong Ranges,” he said.
Cr Dunn said the main benefit of the existing route was that it specifically linked Olinda to a larger hills hub in Monbulk and provided transport along the tourist route.
Monbulk MP James Merlino said “the Olinda to Monbulk bus route is a great addition to public transport in the Dandenongs and continues to encourage residents to take advantage of the new bus service.” “If the service proves to be a success, we will implement it as a permanent service.”