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Community facilities Roads | December 06, 2016

Public transport service between Stawell, Halls Gap and Bellfield

Victorian Parliament - 6 December 2016 - Ms Kealy - My question is to the Minister for Public Transport. Minister, when will the new public transport service between Stawell, Halls Gap and Bellfield, which includes at least three bus services per day, be approved and commenced? The Grampians National Park is a major tourism drawcard for western Victoria which offers not only a beautiful environment and bushwalking opportunities but also a range of high‑quality accommodation, cafes, wineries, gourmet food producers and activities such as abseiling and rock climbing. One of the greatest barriers to the further development of tourism opportunities in the Grampians is poor access to public transport. The local community, including Graeme Sandlant from Stawell City Bus Services and Tim Wilson from Tim’s Place, along with Northern Grampians Shire Council and Public Transport Victoria, have been working closely to develop a tri‑daily connecting bus route, which has broad community support. This service will greatly improve connectivity with other public transport services to Horsham and Stawell and assist in expanding tourism in the Grampians. I therefore ask the minister to confirm when this new tri‑daily bus service to connect Stawell to Halls Gap and Bellfield will be approved and will commence.