By Belinda Nolan
RESIDENTS and Maribyrnong mayor Michelle MacDonald are campaigning for more Metlink ticketing outlets in the municipality.
The council will write to Metlink and the Transport Ticketing Authority to request confirmation that the distribution of Metcard facilities within the city are appropriate for the number of public transport users.
Cr MacDonald presented the notice of motion at last week’s ordinary council meeting after residents complained of difficulty accessing machines.
Statistics provided to Star by the Department of Transport indicate almost 17,000 people use trains each week in the city of Maribyrnong, a figure which is certain to rise amid increasing fuel costs.
Transport Ticketing Authority media relations manager Adrian Darwent said there were 17 Metcard outlets within the city, with just one outlet in Seddon.
Mr Darwent said the number of outlets was appropriate for the city, but Maribyrnong residents disagree.
Seddon pensioner Betty Macclafferty was one of several residents who approached Cr MacDonald after a Metlink outlet was removed from a milk bar in Gamon St, forcing her to walk further to pre-purchase a ticket.
The 79-year-old said she had lived in the suburb for more than 30 years and used public transport at least four times a week.
“In that time, I’ve always bought my ticket at the milk bar,” she said.
Store owner Ding Zhou said he had put in a request to Metlink to continue selling tickets shortly after acquiring the milk bar in March, but had been told additional retailers were not required in the area.
Mr Zhou said Metlink’s claim that the store did not sell enough tickets in the past to make the outlet profitable was simply not true.
“Since I (took) over the store, so many people (have) come in and ask(ed) about tickets, especially on a Saturday or Monday,” he said.
Ms Macclafferty said the number of ticketing outlets was insufficient given the city’s massive population boom.
“To me, it’s just not satisfactory,” she said.
“The area where I live in Seddon has the densest population in the whole of Melbourne, so I can’t understand why they are taking this stance.
“All I want to do is purchase a ticket. It’s nothing illegal.”
Cr MacDonald said the council would look into the statistics to determine what further action needed to be done to resolve the issue.
