Target for transport

By DION TEASDALE
A GROUP of Upper Yarra students could find themselves discussing public transport improvements facetoface with Transport Minister Peter Batchelor.
The students, from Upper Yarra Secondary College in Yarra Junction, are part of a Youth Advisory Council formed and convened by Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato.
Ms Lobato, who has been working with the students since April to identify issues affecting young people in the area, has offered to set up a meeting with Mr Batchelor by the end of year.
“The students have identified that their major issue is access to public transport, particularly the lack of after hours bus services,” she said.
“They have been discussing how beneficial a late night bus service, similar to the Night Rider bus which currently runs from the city to Ringwood, would be in the Upper Yarra.
“The students believe a service like this would allow young people to access a wide range of entertainment, education and employment opportunities that are currently not available to them,” she said.
Ms Lobato, who met with the Upper Yarra Youth Advisory Council earlier this month, said she had indicated to the council that she was prepared to approach Mr Batchelor and request a meeting with the students.
She said the student members of the council intended to conduct a survey in the coming months of the public transport needs of young people in the area and hoped to be able to present the findings of the survey to Mr Batchelor.
“I asked the students to contact me when they’ve completed their survey and told them I’ll work with them to lobby for improvements,” she said. “I hope to be able to facilitate a meeting between the students and Mr Batchelor before the end of the year.”