Following recent community concern over police staffing levels at the Omeo and Swifts Creek one-man stations, Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, has taken the matter to State Parliament, asking the Police Minister what plans are in place to cover absences when they occur.

 

“I have been advised by several local residents that there have been a number of times recently, including this week, when both officers have been absent or off duty and policing coverage is provided from Bairnsdale,” Mr Bull said.

 

“This of course is problematic as Omeo is over 90 minutes away and other locations covered by this station are over two hours away from Bairnsdale.

 

“Particularly as we are now in the fire season, and we have had fires in recent weeks in this area, we must surely have one person on duty locally as a minimum.

 

“Given the distance from Bairnsdale, I ask the Minister what is the plan to cover these absences when they occur as coverage provided from Bairnsdale is not deemed as adequate.

 

“There are always short-term absences that are hard to cover, but when the absences are known days or weeks in advance, arrangements should be put in place, especially at this time of the year.

 

“Local police do a fantastic job in responding to incidents across the region, however the community needs an assurance there will always be a presence provided at one of these stations as a minimum.”

 

The Minister has 30 days to respond to Mr Bull’s question.

 

“I look forward to hearing what the Minister has to say, and I am hoping the Omeo and Tambo Valley communities are assured of adequate resourcing in the case of possible absences,” he said.

 

 

Caption: Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, has asked the Police Minister what plans are in place during staff absences at Omeo and Swifts Creek police stations.

 

 

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Recent changes to bus timetables for Orbost travellers has prompted Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull to call on the Minister for Public Transport  to review the altered schedule which has short changed Orbost and district residents. 

 

“The early afternoon Monday to Friday service, that previously connected directly with a train service leaving Bairnsdale for Melbourne, has been altered to arrive later and does not align with a departing train.

 

“Instead the new service arrives at Bairnsdale at 3.40pm and the next train does not leave for Melbourne until 6.14pm.

 

“The replacement service turns the trip from Orbost to Southern Cross Station into an eight hour ordeal and to date no one has been able to provide any reason for this, so I am asking the Minister to review this change.

 

“In the peak tourist season from Christmas through to mid-January, the loss of the early afternoon service through to Melbourne will be calamitous for travellers, leaving people facing either an eight hour slog back home or an unscheduled stop over. This is not an experience that we want visitors to East Gippsland to suffer.

 

“Parents are also concerned for the safety of unaccompanied children using this overlong service.”

 

Mr Bull said Orbost & District residents used to arrive at Southern Cross Station at 7.35pm which suited family pick-ups and connections with metro train and tram services.

 

 

Caption: Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull says VLine has “missed the bus” with its unpopular Orbost schedule changes.

 

 

Wednesday, November 1, 2017