MEMBER for Collie-Preston Mick Murray has accused the Barnett government and the Nationals WA of ignoring community requests for the re-instatement of the Boyup Brook-Collie-Bunbury bus service.
"Given that the main reason behind the service being cancelled was financial viability, I question the government's fiscal skills on this one."
This is despite allowing for the return of the more costly and less patronised Albany to Hopetoun service.
Since the twice weekly service was cancelled in December last year, Mr Murray has asked numerous parliamentary questions, made several speeches, written many letters on behalf of his constituents and presented a petition with nearly 1300 names, calling for the reinstatement of the convenient bus service.
"Not only has the Barnett government and the Nationals coughed up and paid millions to keep the Avonlink train running from Northam to Perth, it will now subsidise an Albany to Hopetoun, via Ravensthorpe, bus service which has roughly 1500 passengers per year with subsidies of $97 and $163 per head," he said.
"The Boyup Brook-Collie-Bunbury bus service was used by 3800 passengers a year with a subsidy of just $52 per passenger.
"Given that the main reason behind the service being cancelled was financial viability, I question the government's fiscal skills on this one."
When re-introducing the Albany to Hopetoun bus service and announcing the Avonlink train continuation, strong community and local government campaigns to continue local services were cited as underlying reasons for re-instatement of transport links.
"It seems strange that the leader of the National Party was noticeably silent for his constituents in Warren-Blackwood on this issue, given that there was a lot of community angst about the bus cancellation," he said. "I, along with many, many Collie residents made our thoughts known on this issue."
Most of the support for the Boyup Brook-Collie-Bunbury bus service was because of convenient connection times with the Australind Train at Brunswick Junction, the acceptance of concession fares by the TRANSWA provider and the provision of buses on weekends and public holidays.
Mr Murray said the current services do not match consumer needs and the fight to reinstate the 115 and 116 bus services was not over.
"It seems the Barnett government and the Nationals don't value the opinions of public transport users in Boyup Brook and Collie, no wonder we are grumpy," he said.
