MAJOR concerns about a lack of accessible public transport and its impact on Gannawarra communities were voiced at a community meeting last Wednesday.
The meeting had been called to discuss the Cohuna/Leitchville and District Community Transport Needs Study.
Worries about cost-of-living increases and the ageing population were upmost.
Cohuna Community Bus Committee president Max Fehring said the study would help transport planning.
“With the assistance of a grant from the Bendigo Community Bank, we engaged Kerry Anderson from KA Rural Enterprises to independently research our community transport needs, now and into the future,” Mr Fehring said.
Findings of the report confirmed the Cohuna and Leitchville district was disadvantaged because of a lack of appropriate public transport.
While there was some community transport assistance available through local agencies and service groups, Ms Anderson suggested these could be better co-ordinated, promoted and utilised in the short-term.
A major concern at the meeting was fulfiling the needs of an ageing population and the predicted growth of Cohuna.
“If you don’t have access to a car, life can be very challenging,” a community member said.
Mr Fehring said that with one quarter of the population already over 70 years of age, driving long distances to access medical appointments and services in Kerang, Echuca and Bendigo, would be a growing safety issue.
The impact of social isolation, he said, also needed to be taken into consideration.
With the community bus in need of replacement and in line with identified community needs, the study looked into a range of options for the committee to consider and how they could be funded.
The involvement of volunteers in more manageable ways was also explored.
“None of this is a surprise,” Mr Fehring said.
“This report gives us options and the data we need to seek support.
“A big part of moving forward will be forging stronger partnerships across the shire and beyond.
“Our community has a history of looking after itself, but with so much disadvantage being stacked up against us, it is time to start doing things differently.”
Copies of the report can be accessed by calling Max Fehring on 0417 307 157 or Margot Henty on 0427 506 604.
