BY MADELAINE MCNEILL
Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery is calling on the state government to continue funding Newcastle's Park and Ride bus service.
Last Thursday, council CEO Jeremy Bath was shocked to read in an article from The Newcastle Herald that state funding for the service would likely finish at the end of March despite positive talks between council and the government.
The NSW government was expected to formally advise council of its decision by last Friday but is yet to do so, leading to a decision from council to step in and cover the costs until the end of April.
City of Newcastle has agreed to underwrite the service for the month of April while it undertakes a detailed cost analysis of the operation, but Sonia Hornery says the burden shouldn't fall on local government.
"Really it's a state government responsibility and it should be funded by the state government for the people who live in the western suburbs," said Ms Hornery.
"I urge them to have some courage, consider the needs of the people of the western suburbs of Newcastle and continue to fund the popular Park and Ride system."
The service won't run on Friday, March 29th due to the Super Rugby match at McDonald Jones Stadium but will operate as usual from Monday.
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| Image: The Herald |
