Gembrook’s Michael Galea, Transport Minister Lynne Kosky, Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato, and the town’s Puffing Billy station master Bob Farr, welcome a move to introduce a new bus service to Pakenham. 40201
By Tania Martin
HILLS youths will no longer miss out on education and employment opportunities in Pakenham’s growth corridor with the introduction of a long-awaited bus service.
This comes as the Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky yesterday (Tuesday) announced the Gembrook to Pakenham bus link.
Gembrook’s Michael Galea, 17, has been campaigning for the bus service to be extended for the past four years.
He started up a petition when he was just 13, collecting more than 200 signatures in the fight for the service.
Mr Galea was elated at the news.
“It means a lot to young people in the hills,” he said.
“We miss out on a lot of opportunities in Pakenham and along the growth corridor because we can’t get down there … this will make a lot of difference to a lot of people.”
Although it has taken more than four years, Mr Galea never doubted the cause.
“I believed it would happen eventually,” he said.
Gembrook resident and the town’s Puffing Billy stationmaster, Bob Farr, said Michael had set a great example for other young people.
“This (the bus) is fantastic but the big highlight is that it shows young people can do it – they can make a difference,” he said.
“They just need a little big of encouragement to do it.”
Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato said the new service would be a step forward for young people.
But she said it would also make a huge difference for families.
“I know so many mums who take their 17-year-old kids down to Berwick and Pakenham for work and further education,” she said.
“It’s going to make a huge difference … those early connections to the trains are also going to be vital.”
Ms Kosky said this latest announcement was part of a $500 million commitment to introduce new routes and upgrade existing services.
“More and more people are now hopping on the bus to get to school, work or deciding to leave their car at home for local trips and let someone else do the driving,” she said.
The new route 840 will connect with peak-hour trains to and from the city.
Ms Lobato said it was a step forward for Gembrook residents who could access transport links to Belgrave and Emerald but had to rely on cars to go to Pakenham.
Emerald College principal Wayne Burgess said the new service would be a major boost to his students.
He said often there was trouble with students accessing work placement or further training courses in Berwick.
“It will increase the opportunity further down the hill,” Mr Burgess said.
The new service is expected to be up and running early next year.
