Ticket to ride

By Kath Gannaway
THERE is bi-partisan support, at electorate level at least, for scrapping the country fare on the Warburton Highway.
Speaking at the Yarra Ranges Transport Forum held last week at Mooroolbark, Greens Upper House candidate for Eastern Victoria Samantha Dunn said the country fare, which sees bus travellers between Woori Yallock and East Warburton pay an additional fare, was inequitable.
“We see considerable inequities in public transport ticketing with the country fare along the Upper Yarra corridor,” she said.
“The Greens believe in fair and equitable access to public transport and will work to abolish this inequity for these communities,” she said. Labor MP for Gembrook Tammy Lobato has campaigned in the past for the abolition of the country fare.
She told the Mail the introduction of Myki would effectively even the playing field.
Ms Lobato said she was strongly advocating for the roll-out of Myki throughout the electorate as soon as possible.
“This electorate will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of an integrated ticketing system.
“Once Myki is fully rolled out, you’ll be able to get from Warburton to Melbourne on just one ticket, making travel much simpler,” she said.
Liberal candidate Brad Battin observed that neither the Liberal Party, nor the Labor Party had committed to removing the country fare along the Warburton Highway.
It is an issue that has been a thorn in the side of Liberal and Labor governments for more than 15 years.
Mr Battin added his support for a change, putting all three candidates in furious agreement of the issue.
“If elected I will continue to campaign to remove this fare for the local residents,” he told the Mail.
Wayne Mountjoy, Managing Director of Martyr’s Bus Service which has the licence for services along the Warburton Highway said they had campaigned for more than 20 years against the country fare, but that there had been improvements in recent years.
“While we are not as staunchly against it because of changes to the structure over the past few years we still have a high degree of resistance to it and it is clearly unpopular with the travelling public,” he said.
He said it became an issue with some people evading the additional fare by stating they were travelling only to Allsops Road, where the country fare kicks in, and then staying on the bus and said that could lead to confrontation for their drivers.
“Being an advocate for our travelling public would support calls for a change,” he said.