Buses on Their Way at Last
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The Mallee Health Service, District Council of Karoonda East Murray and the Passenger Transport Board announce that the Passenger Transport Board has awarded the Karoonda East Murray Transport tender to Coorong Coaches.
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The Mallee Health Service through Karoonda District Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital staff and the District Council of Karoonda East Murray have been involved since the beginning of the process in specifying the core services that will be required. Consultation with the community was also important in the process and services have been designed around what the community expressed as their transport needs.
Jim and Gale Davis from Coorong Coaches said that they have purchased a new 21 Seat plus 1 Wheelchair space Mitsubishi bus specifically to service the Karoonda East Murray needs. The bus is fitted with ducted air-conditioning, seatbelts and is wheelchair accessible from the footpath. The bus will be located in Karoonda and operated by a local person. Services are expected to begin at the end of April 2003 and further information about schedules, fares and contact details will be publicised soon.
The Bus service will make regular runs to Murray Bridge and the Riverland to enable people to more easily attend medical and other appointments. Darren Pike, CEO of Mallee Health Service said that a lot of work has gone into ensuring that the health and welfare needs of the community have been considered in providing this service.
The Passenger Transport Board is the major funder of this service with contributions from the Mallee Health Service and user fares. Concession card holders will only pay $5 for return fares and services provided for the health services will be at no cost to the user. The Mallee Health Service is supporting this service with funding received through the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing’s Regional Health Service Program. The Mallee Health Service has specified a range of core services such as transport for Day Centre, youth services, attendance at specialist medical appointments and linking with services in Murray Bridge so that people with appointments in Adelaide can also use the bus service.
Peter Smithson, CEO of District Council of Karoonda East Murray said it will be a great resource for the community. The service will be available for local charters, youth groups and other community groups to access.
This service will go a long way to meeting many of the transport needs in Karoonda East Murray. While the process of tender selection has taken longer than we would have liked, it is pleasing to see the service finally begin. To ensure the continuing viability of this valuable service, the community is encouraged to take advantage and use the bus to its full potential.
More Information: Darren Pike, CEO Mallee Health Service 0407 616 383, or
Peter Smithson, CEO Karoonda East Murray District Council 8578 1004
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