Transport woes centre stage

By Paul Dunlop
POOR public transport has been described as potentially being Pakenham’s biggest social setback.
Late trains and a lack of buses servicing the town and connecting it to outlying areas are a constant source of frustration for residents.
Public transport woes took centre stage at a forum last Wednesday, held as part of an ongoing project to identify and weed out issues of concern in the community.
As previously reported in the Gazette, a recent study on Pakenham’s changing face found that many people regard local public transport as being at ‘crisis point’.
Cardinia Shire councillors have also expressed their anger at a lack of state and federal funding for improvements to bus and rail networks in the fastgrowing area.
The forum highlighted the transport issue, services for the elderly, and a lack of sporting opportunities for young people as key areas in need of improvement.
The forum was part of the Real Action Generates Energy (RAGE) project, which is a joint initiative of Big House Communities, the Gippsland Education Centre and Cardinia Shire Council.
The project is being guided by a steering committee made up of community leaders, including Cardinia district inspector Chris Major, Living and Learning in Cardinia coordinator Judith Brown, Outlook chief executive officer Tony Fitzgerald and Cardinia Shire mayor Garry Runge.
Director of Big House Communities Andre Van Eymeren said people at the forum chose the major issues and would now lead lobby efforts to find solutions to the problems.
“The evening was very positive, with a lot of goodwill and energy displayed,” he said.
“If other people are interested in any of the other three issues they are more than welcome to come and join in.”
The groups will meet again on 10 August at 7pm at The Chapel, on the corner of McGregor Road and Main Street, Pakenham.
“As well as working on the issues, the people involved in the project will engage in learning around community action,” Mr Van Eymeren said.
This will include:
•How to work within a group towards a common goal;
•How to research and plan towards outcomes;
•How to the help the community get involved;
•Lobbying key stakeholders such as local, state and federal government;
•How to write submissions and implement solutions.
Mr Van Eymeren said the aim of RAGE was to form action groups around various issues that people in the Pakenham area were passionate about.