Article: Service set to fold

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From the Westside News click here!

Service set to fold

Service set to fold

HUNDREDS of commuters in the outer western suburbs will be left stranded as the privately-funded Southern Cross busline looks almost certain to cease operations by July.

Without some form of funding, Southern Cross general manager Frank Oliveri said the firm would have to close its Indooroopilly to Ipswich busline by the end of the financial year, because it was losing too much money. ?There is no public transport service in Australia which is commercially viable on its own, they all rely on some form on funding,? Mr Oliveri said.

?If we go under there will be no other transport option besides cars for the people in outer suburbs like Karana Downs.?
The state government is refusing to provide any funding for the service, saying that while the area is within Brisbane?s electoral boundary, it is not within TransLink?s transport contract area.

However Member for Moggill Dr Bruce Flegg said the government was simply making up reasons to avoid funding the scheme.
?The Samford Valley area is very similar to this area in that both are semi-rural and low-density, and yet they have qualified for TransLink funding while the people of the outer west are being ignored,? Dr Flegg said.

A Translink spokesman said: ?Currently the services on Route 444 and 443 connect Pinjarra Hills, Bellbowrie and Moggill to Indooroopilly and the CBD and patronage levels suggest further service are not required at this stage.?