RAIL passengers and the Kangaroo Flat community are right to be annoyed with the slowcoach Brumby Government, as highlighted by Graeme Monaghan’s letter in The Advertiser on June 28.

Despite a strong community campaign which rattled and rumbled the State Government on our community’s vision for the station precinct, the government’s lack of respect is still evident by the drip-feed approach on display more than two months after extra services started.

The Government has made passengers wait for construction of a permanent carpark, and there are community concerns about disabled passenger access to the platform, the limited office hours and access to rest facilities.

Passengers are presenting a strong case to extend office hours and improve access to rest facilities at Kangaroo Flat. They have even raised doubts about whether security staff are allowed access during overnight shifts.

And, the community is equally annoyed that despite requests to Bendigo West MP Bob Cameron and Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky to act on community concerns, they have not even responded.

The release of May passenger numbers showed more than $40,000 in fares had been collected since the Government got on board with the Liberal policy from two years ago, of extra services at Kangaroo Flat.

But less than half of those 2029 passengers in May were able to purchase their tickets at Kangaroo Flat, because the office closes at 12.15pm on weekdays and is closed at weekends.

It is unfortunate that the Government hinders our community in realising its vision.

CHRIS EARL,

Kangaroo Flat