Bus link from Wangaratta to Bairnsdale

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle - 05.09.08

State drives tourism with twice weekly service from here to Bairnsdale

A NEW twice weekly bus service to link Wangaratta and Bairnsdale will open up the Great Alpine Road to further economic opportunities.

Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said the new bus service, backed by an $11,500 government grant, would start in late October and run through until May 2009 and will operate on Mondays and Fridays.

"The government is taking action to boost regional public transport and I am delighted to announce this summer bus service, which I am sure will prove popular with locals and tourists," Ms Kosky said.

"The Alps Bus Link service will be an iconic, regional and strategic public transport route and link the regional towns of Wangaratta, Bright, Omeo and Bairnsdale along the Great Alpine Road.

"Importantly, it will also link local Alpine Shire communities that are currently not connected to any public transport service, such as Dinner Plain, Harrietville, Freeburgh and the Alpine resort of Mt Hotham."

The innovative Alps Bus Link project is the result of several successful cross government partnerships through two local Transport Connections projects - the Let’s GET Connected Transport Project and the North East Transport Connections Project.

"There was a real community push for this service and several councils and tourist organisations jumped on board raising a total of $14,500 to help finance the running of the service," Ms Kosky said.

"The East Gippsland and Alpine Shire Councils, Mount Hotham Resort Management Board, the East Gippsland and North East Transport Connections Projects, Omeo Region and Business Tourism Association and the Mount Hotham Ski Company all contributed to the establishment of the service."