Community groups seeking the resumption of a Green Island ‘‘local'' bus service, linking with South Dunedin, have been encouraged by the Otago Regional Council's response.
A petition, signed by about 400 people, was presented to a council meeting last month, with the support of the Greater Green Island Community Network and Bus Go, a bus users support group.
The council's finance and corporate committee will tomorrow consider a passenger transport update report, which discusses a possible council response to the petition and overall concerns.
The petition had sought the return of the previous No70 ‘‘local'' bus from Brighton to South Dunedin.
This service was lost when the council introduced a more direct southern route bus service last July.
The council committee report notes that before the petition had been received, council staff had already started investigating ‘‘the cost and feasibility'' of providing links between Green Island and Concord.
Staff were, with the bus operator, investigating several alternative transport options, which included:
●Retaining the status quo.
●Providing a link between Concord and Green Island, using an extension of the Brighton-Abbotsford service.
●The option suggested in the petition.
●Extending the Corstorphine service into Green Island via Concord.
Considerations, in assessing the options, included the impact on ‘‘co-ordinated timetables'', including at Mosgiel, and other inter-related services; ‘‘likely patronage effects''; existing capacity; additional fleet requirements, and cost.
Community network co-ordinator Lynda Davidson yesterday said she was pleased the council was thinking about possible transport change.
She was optimistic about the overall outcome, and said the network's preferred overall option remained the Brighton ‘‘local'' service.
Bus Go co-president Alex King said some options would not meet overall community needs, and the Brighton bus move was the preferred option, but there was also some merit in the Corstorphine service extension.
ORC support services manager Gerard Collins said council staff expected to report back to a later finance and corporate meeting, in mid-year, on the feasibility of the options, including possible timing for service changes, if any.
