Transport options 'don't work'

By Gemma Seymor, 10 Aug, 2011 12:00 AM

THE location of Saturday's western Sydney transport symposium is close to public transport links, at the junction of the south, south-west, west and Richmond train lines.

It's ironic, then, that getting to the Lidcombe venue from Penrith by public transport also highlights missing links.

Sue Day, of the South Penrith Residents Action Group, who is also a member of the Western Sydney Public Transport Users' steering committee, said connections needed to be improved.

She said if someone wanted to get from Glenmore Park, for example, to Penrith railway station by bus on a weekend then "it's quicker by car — put it that way". "That's where the local transport system isn't really working for us," Mrs Day said.

"Connections don't work."

The Western Sydney Public Transport Users symposium presents an opportunity for residents to have a say about what they see as their transport needs.

The organisation is an umbrella one which supports the work of local transport-user groups and action groups.

Groups from areas such as Penrith, Mount Druitt and Parramatta will be taking part.

Mrs Day said that the forum would help commuters understand how they could work to improve public transport for their community.

After the forum the organisation would form policies so they could lobby collectively, Mrs Day said.

Among the topics to be discussed at the forum would be free shuttle buses. "Ours is not working," Mrs Day said. "No one's using it."

She said it wasn't servicing where people needed to go, pointing out that the government-funded shuttle didn't stop at the library, near the Aldi store on High Street nor at Nepean Hospital.

It's on Saturday, August 13, from 10.30am to 4pm, at the Dooleys Club.

Details, registration: wsbustop@gmail.com or 9633 5068. People who have difficulty getting to the venue can request transport or call Sue, 0411 395 363.