Contact Us

To contact Save Our Buses please email us at: sobs_mtdruittasa@hotmail.com
or phone Deb Robertson on 02 98351882 & 0409669876
Showing posts with label SOBS Media. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SOBS Media. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

St Marys -Mt Druitt Star on Swallow Drive, Erskine Park!

Rock throwers cut bus service

BY RODERICK SHAW

06 Apr, 2010 09:51 AM

ROCKS smashed windows on a bus in Swallow Drive, Erskine Park, last week, prompting a partial ban on the street by bus drivers until safety measures are adopted.

The rocks smashed three windows and the door of a bus on the evening of March 29.

``Westbus services will not go to Swallow Drive after 6pm and will drop passengers at Erskine Road, a short walk away,'' a Transport Workers Union spokeswoman said.

The union wants a risk assessment conducted by the police, Westbus and the Ministry of Transport.

A union organiser, Darcy Waller, said the rock-throwing was the worst such incident he could remember.

``They were extremely lucky there was no one on the bus,'' Mr Waller said.
''There were glass fragments taking up about half the length of it.''
He said rock-throwing had been going on for some years and it was lucky that, apart from a few minor injuries, no one had been seriously hurt or even killed.

A spokesman for Westbus said: ``The safety of drivers and passengers is of paramount importance to Westbus.
``The company is working closely with police to discuss how the risk of further such incidents can be reduced to enable services to resume in this area after dark.''

Mr Waller said police indicated there would be more patrols in the area, but he believes an
overall safety assessment is needed.
He also called on the public to help.
``If someone sees another person lurking around, acting suspiciously, they should contact the police,'' he said.
``If anyone knows anything, they should do the same.
``All the bus drivers want to do is say goodbye to their families in the morning and hello to them at night.''

Anyone with any information about rock-throwing can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800333000.



If Taxis Strike That Means More Passengers For Buses

last Wedneday week, taxis went on strike for safety and fines issues - whilst this happened there were shoppers that had bags of item to bring home and were told not to get taxis - the only way home after that was queing for buses as advised by an informant.

Refer to story on Mt Druitt St Marys Standard werbsite:
http://digitaledition.mtdruittstandard.com.au/?email-analytics=Mt Druitt St Marys Standard

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Bidwill Channel Nine Video

Herech is the video from Channel Nine shown on the news at 6pm on 30th March 2010.

Thank you everyone for organising this and even particularily wearing your passionate heart out

Also thanks to Debbie Robertson and Janet Cribbs for organising a great turn out -Ray Williams for his support!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

''Bidwill Deadline Looming" A Great Focus Article From Mount Druitt St Marys Standard

RESIDENTS FACING ISOLATION BY LAREN MURABA

Bidwill residents ho rely on public transport will be isolated over the Easter long weekend.

The problem was raised at a meeting of Save Our Bus Services (sobs)Mt Druitt an Surrounding Suburbs group on Saturday.

Committee member Deb Robertson said that because bus services do not run to the suburb on public holidays, Bidwill will be cut off over the long weekend.

"For the Easter period they won't have any buses whatsoever," she said,"We'll be writing letters( to the transport minister), many to do with the weekend bus services at Bidwill and the fact that right throughout the 2770 postcode weekend services no longer exist and we want our services back."

The group will meet this morning to highlight the matter. All members of the public are welcome to come.

The group will meet at11am Bidwill community Gardens, Chestnut Crescent.

Sobs is trying to fight for the return of a service to Gasmata Cres Whalan.

Inspite Londonderry state labor MP Allan Shearan promise to Whalan residents in late February, bus services have yet to return to the street.

A Westbus spokesman said the matter are still under review.

;Westbus recently met (Mr) Shearan, and is working to resturn services the Gasmata Crescent area, taking into account driver safety issues," he said.

According to Sobs Chairman John Svoboda, a rock throwing incident and a blind corner at Luxford Road and Gasmata Cres were the problems.

'I'm concerned he's saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.It's not good saying something until it really happens," he said.

Mr Shearan was unavailable yesterday when the Mount Druitt St Marys Standard tried to contact him to comment on the matter.

The next Sobs meeting will be on April 20 at the Holy family Centre, Emerton and is open for the public.

Channel Nine: Film Community Residents At Bidwill Gardens, Chestnut Crescent Bidwill

Who would think in today's world that the TV media press would be interested in good nature stories like our true stories that people have been severely affected? Ten years ago no one, two years ago no one and today totally believe.

Mount Druitt has been notoriously known as a bad area - where bad stories and bad things happen. Crime is on the rise, the children aren't properly education in the past, the people do not all work or have at all worked!

Well, this has all changed to the Bus Time table change implemented by the NSW Government, authorised by NSW by the premier of the day, Minister of Transport,and local members of State Government for Londonderry and Mount Druitt. Not to forget the decision makers; Blacktown City Council, Bus operaters and the Ministry of Transport.

We have community members that can fight and get back what was taken away from them and without their permission, We have dedicated group members that support each and every other area in and around Mount Druitt. we have the support base from the local press to one local Blacktown councillor, outside State Members to the local press whom all understand our cause.

So today we had what the entire Mount Druitt community wanted at the end of November 2009 was for the bus issues to be brought upo to the attention of the TV Press - at Bidwill Community Gardens, Chestnut Crescent, Bidwill - about 40-50 people at tented the TV Coverage and expressed their views and dissatisfaction against the NSW Government and its representatives. THe member for Hawkesbury, Mr. Ray Williams attended the meeting and also arrange for the press to come to our suburb. We expect that it will be shown on the news time within the next week!

Thank you Mount Druitt members for attending!

I've got that channel nine feeling!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

University Student Ready To Interview Us For Our True Stories

It is very pleasing to have received an e-mail invitation from a student news reporter - who would like to report on our group, our true stories on behalf of the people of Mount Druitt.

We are pleased to accept the offer so that the true way people have felt and how some others will be feeling regarding the affect of severing and deleting bus services. It is obviously something that is pleasing to do on behalf of the community.

We want the people to be heard. The people want to represent them to be heard. Cheers will fill the streets once all services are returned!

So the more this gets out to the press the more the people can be heard, the more the NSW Government and it's representatives can be more sympathetic rather than pathetic!

People will vote from the heart at the next election and they will remember who had taken away their bus services and how long they took with our group main lobbying to bring back one main service. Unheard of in many areas. e do mean business for our community we will not stop until our community is very happy! Vote One the community!

Article 'SMH' Newspapers - Regarding Bus Operaters Refusal To Go Down Small Streets

Fair Work inquiry into bus drivers' route bans ANDREW WEST TRANSPORT
November 14, 2009


BUS drivers in western Sydney face prosecution by the Federal Government's industrial relations umpire for refusing to drive on streets where hooligans throw rocks at passing vehicles and have assaulted passengers.

Despite support from police, and the sympathy of bus company managers, the Fair Work Australia Ombudsman is investigating drivers for allegedly violating work agreements by imposing ''route bans''.

The issue is set to explode at this weekend's NSW Labor conference, when the Transport Workers Union is expected to take the issue directly to the Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, who oversees the ombudsman's office. Ms Gillard is scheduled to address the conference tomorrow morning.

A spokesman for the ombudsman, Craig Bildstein, confirmed the agency was investigating staff at Busways, who have imposed bans on Discovery Avenue in Willmot and Sedgman Drive and Emerson Road in Shalvey.

''The Fair Work Ombudsman has received complaints alleging several instances of unlawful industrial action by bus drivers employed by Busways,'' Mr Bildstein told the Herald. ''The investigation is ongoing and I cannot comment further at this stage.''

Busways management did not return the Herald's call but last year a Busways manager said if attacks continued, ''we will seriously consider a ban''.

Tony Sheldon, the national secretary of the Transport Workers Union, which represents drivers, said his members were not in a dispute over pay or conditions but were trying to protect their own safety and passengers.

''The Ombudsman's office have told us they are not concerned about safety issues,'' '' he said. ''But if rock throwing, or bus drivers being assaulted, means they cannot refuse to drive down a street where it is constantly happening, then no worker has any rights in Australia over safety.''

The NSW Police Association has supported the drivers' decision to avoid dangerous streets. ''It is perfectly reasonable for drivers to put bans on streets where it is unsafe,'' the association's secretary, Peter Remfrey, said. Parts of western Sydney and regional NSW have become no-go zones for drivers in the past four years.

In August 2006, bus drivers, the TWU and representatives of the Ministry of Transport agreed to withdraw some bus services in the Penrith and Blacktown areas.

In January last year, a driver narrowly avoided being hit by a bottle in Wilmot, while four other drivers were robbed by assailants wielding knives or syringes. Two months later, four rock attacks on buses over two days in Campbelltown led to a review of routes.

In 2007, a series of rock-throwing incidents, and a robbery in Mount Druitt in which an assailant placed a gun to the head of a driver, provoked the first ban on routes.

Mr Sheldon said the Ombudsman's investigation over a safety issue would create a backlash in the community.

''I can only think they are trying to set up the Federal Government,'' he said.

Monday, March 22, 2010

TV Crew Comes To Mount Druitt To Save Our Bus Services

Well, yes it is true - we finally have the best news ever that our group could have to promote our cause.

You ask yourself what is it - it is what the community wanted from the Community meeting we had at Mount Druitt Dawson Mall on 29th November 2009. it was a national Film crew coming to Mount Druitt.

Yes, we received one service back after asking for many more services to be re-introduced around the area> Yes, we had the State MP's for Mount Druitt and Londonderry runs round and they they were the one's that instituted the return of the 755 bus service. Yes, the People of Mount Druitt are on the way of getting their lives back to normal. Yes, people of Mount Druitt can not and will not be taken for a ride so that infrastructure can be deteriorated - providing less services than what should be required.

No way cutting bus services will make anybody happy. No way NSW Government communicated direct to the public via forums in Mount Druitt before riding essential services required by the community. NO way, governments can just take away what is not there's!

So if anyone is interested regarding being involved as a community contact Debbie on the above contact phone numbers for more details!

Monday, January 25, 2010

Response to Minister Campbells 2UE Response today

It is good that the Minister would like to listen to us and share the community's concern of the affect of the changes.

In relation to supplying a Shopper hopper service Westbus 674 on Bulolo Drive is only one service that was changed - due to Whalan residents fed up of no support from Government when the Government decided to take out the bus service out of a small and winding road that went passed whalan shops. Nothing was mentioned that they didn't means to do this.Yes, I am passionate about this - I feel like it is back to day one with us if (NSW Government) think that by providing a 90 percent reduction service will make that community happy. Was there local consultation with the local members of Parliament to the owners of Whalan Shops - I understand 'No'! Was there a community consultation with members of parliament to the members of the entire Whalan Community, I'd say 'No'!

Mr David Campbell, one small tiny service does not replace all deleted services around mount Druitt. Our members will meet you on this Thursday with passion thus you may wish to us ask what issues do we have - I hope you do listen to them - each of them are great standing members of our community!

When governments make detrimental decisions that affect all members of the commmunity and want it to be brought in quietly without the community making a complaint. That is when the Government members like to hide. I have even heard that one of our local government members of parliament thought there was no issues about bus changes - yet there were hundreds and hundreds of complaint on the Infoline - and the Blacktown forum - when the issues of Mount Druitt were raised - The Government turned a 'blind eye'.

I think Mr Campbell should see the impact of the bus service changes, walk the distances of where patrons live to the nearest bus stop and I'm sure he will be a good judge of the 400 metre thumb rule for nearest bus stop from the front door of where you live. I have and I walk shorter distance than most people - but some community members walk between 15 to twenty minutes to get a bus! I wonder how many buses a week Mr. Campbell gets to work ,how far he has to walk to get a bus. I have walked with our community members these distances and they do suffer!

Maybe a reality check maybe nice Mr. Campbell - you only go from the advice of your local members of parliament - they didn't turn up to our last Community Meeting on 28th November 2009! They have n't contact me for quite a while!

Look along these new services half of them are runing less than half due to the new services - the services that were taken away were well patronised. Produce the figures to prove that patronage has increased but whilst you do that provided figures for the last 43 years of patronage on bus services!!!

Friday, January 22, 2010

Report on Radio 2UE John And Sandy Breakfast Show

A brilliant report was made by John Stanley and Sandy Oloisi on 'Breakfast with John and Sandy' on AM radio 954.

There swas such professionalism from the producer Stefanie - as I had some phone handset problems on Thursday - was unable to hear callers and yet they could hear me!
It was amazing how I prepared myself in the morning for certain questions and was ready for the first one and as I was speaking for all of Mount Druitt community members whom get the bus! Wow! Debbie and I 'tossed the coin' over the phone as to whom should speak - at the end Debbie advised I had place majority of stories of our website thus it should be me! Debbie is great as a Vice Chairperson!

I woke up early and studied all areas as much as i could as there are at least 10- 12 areas of concern. It is hard to sum up the issues but the main issues are the deletion and reduction of service, the extension of bus transfers to get to major destinations and the continuance of seeing buses heading towards Penrith via Tregear, Rope Crossing and St Marys more and more often empty. Actually what I ended up saying talking about the suburbs affected around Mount Druitt and what was then flashing in my mind is the safety issues around Gasmata Crescent - the underpass where the Minister of Transport says it is safe - mentioned about double laned roads being unsafe then reinstating what our petition states and that's what we want when we meet with the Minister - That is pretty much it!

The radio announcers were surprised how Mount Druitt bus services were affecting community members of Mount Druitt - they were saying that it needs people power to get the bus services and time table changed. They agreed with our cause and will follow up with the Ministers of Transport.

On behalf of our group I thank you 2UE, for taking the opportunity to interview us and also after we meet the Minister of Transport.

I heard 2 callers coming in - which were special to me - once was from Gasmata Crescent, Debbie complaining about broken glass in the underpass taking prams underneath and the other was warren regarding buses along Eastern Avenue/Todman Avenue being cut.

This is ironic as the response was immediately local and it assiated the community members of Gasmata Crescent - whom thought we were not including them in the beginning! And then the irony was the next one was just in the vincinity of where my mother lives in Kingsford and also in the electorate of the Premier of NSW - How could this have happen so mysteriously?

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Radio 2UE Interested In Our Cause

We seemed to have hit the are that the Mount Druitt Community requested from us on last meeting of 28th November 2009. They required we go to the press Nationally - well although 2UE is not national we are heading there.

Debbie Robertson our group Vice Chairperson had referred a call to me from the producer of John and Sandy radio breakfast program. I will be interviewed between 6.45am to 7.45am, tomorrow. Listen to the program if you are an early bird!

Thank you Radio 2UE!