By Gladys Barreta
The marathon continues for the residents of Mt Atkinson in their multi-year battle to secure their own bus route.
The second Bus ‘Marathon,’ held on Sunday, March 23, garnered even more support than its first edition, showcasing the urgency for public transport in the region.
Residents have been advocating for a public bus route for two years but remain no closer to securing any funding commitments from State Government and residents are determined to make their voices heard.
Volunteer with the Mt Atkinson Advocacy Forum, Parawan Kaur said residents are walking around 40 to 50 minutes on gravel and unsafe roads to get to the closest bus stop.
“We felt the need to do the second round of the Bus Marathon because Mt Atkinson is totally disconnected without these buses,” she said.
“Every day is a struggle for employees and students, parents and anyone alike and if you don’t have a car, you are limited in your transport options.
“Besides the isolation, with no scheduled bus services, people feel stuck here.
“The recent campaign was for school bus services, which was successful, but this is just the beginning. There is a bigger battle for Mt Atkinson residents to be able to feel connected with the rest of society.”
There are approximately 11,000 residents living in Mt Atkinson, with a predicted growth of 16,000 by the year 2030.
Without a public bus that is easily accessible, residents are left dependent on their cars, which puts pressure on the cost of living.
“We want approved funding for scheduled buses. It’s not going to happen overnight, but it will take time,” Ms Kaur said.
“We want this to be treated as an urgent need and fast-tracked, with no more bureaucracy.
