Over 3000 sign petition to reinstate bus stops
MORE than 3000 people have signed a petition requesting Busways to reinstate the Port Macquarie bus stops near the Glasshouse and Centrelink.
The change of timetable and stops have been a major talking point in the city and have riled many residents.
Eighty-year-old Port woman Christine Hetherington said she didn’t understand why Busways made significant changes.
“I used to get the bus to Centrelink fairly often and the service was well used,” she said.
“Like they say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
The petition was led by the Port Macquarie Branch of Country Labor and the party is hoping it will cary some significant weight, branch secretary Colleen Carmody said.
Mrs Carmody said the petition had been sent to Busways in Sydney, with copies to the director general of transport for NSW, the general manager, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, MP Leslie Williams, and shadow transport minister Penny Sharpe.
“Transport for NSW has been requested under whatever legislative powers it has available to launch an inquiry into the new bus network operating in Port Macquarie,” Mrs Carmody said.
“The trial of the new bus network route has resulted in confusion, anger and disquiet.
“Neither the Busways company nor the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council seem able to resolve the matter.”
Mrs Carmody said she hoped Busways would be keen to receive feedback on its services and to act on it.
The Port Macquarie Branch of Country Labor is asking the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to conduct a public forum where council, Transport for NSW and Busways are all in the same room to hear the concerns of the commuters who depend on Busways for their travel needs.
