Dear Premier,
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Hold the bus.
As Transport Minister four years ago, you reassured the people of this region the future of Wollongong’s free city loop bus was secure.
“Can I assure you that the Wollongong service will continue forever more,’’ you said.
That’s pretty categoric.
Experience has told us to believe very little which comes from the mouths of politicians, but it seems as though you are now in quite a spot of bother.
Transport NSW on Wednesday announced as of January people would now have to pay to use the Gong Shuttle.
It appears Wednesday must also have been the day known as “forever more”.
Premier, if the reaction of the community is any indication, you have quite the fight on your hands.
If you thought you had opposition over the amalgamation of councils or the part-privatisation of the Shellharbour Hospital then we suggest you have not seen anything yet.
The logic expressed by your government department makes little sense.
It plans on easing the congestion on the service by making people pay?
So again you penalise the people of this region and worst of all those that can least afford it will be impacted the most.
Yet when this region approaches your government for genuine and much-needed assistance for things like, for example, the redevelopment of the WIN Entertainment Centre into a convention facility we are greeted with nothing but the sound of crickets.
It seems, despite your protestations of being different and considerate of the Illawarra region, very little has changed since the reign of Mike “The Cupboard Is” Baird.
One of the most liked comments on our Facebook post came from someone you know well Premier, newly-elected Liberal councillor Cameron Walters.
“As a Liberal Wollongong City Councillor to say I’m `disappointed’ by this decision is an understatement,” Cr Walters’ post said.
“Many students, workers and tourist rely on this service. We will fight this decision as it is the wrong decision.”
Premier, if you are to be treated seriously in this region at all moving forward, there appears only one course of action and that is to change course.