TRANSPORT for the Shire's most disadvantaged communities will be addressed in coming months thanks to the Inverell Transport Working Group.

The group, comprised of mostly transport operators, will work together to trial transport services such as weekly bus runs from smaller outlying villages to Inverell.

The services will provide transport for the disadvantaged, including youth, older people and people with disabilities.

Communities of interest include Ashford Yetman, Bukulla, Delungra, Tingha and Nullamanna.

Regional Transport Co-ordinator for New England and the North West, through the State Ministry of Transport Mary Devine has $100,000 on-recurrent funds to fund innovative transport initiatives, following transport audits of each community.

Ms Devine said there would also be a period of consultation with members of each village to find out its transport needs.

Trials will then be conducted to see the level of patronage on each transport service, and the regular timetable would be altered to ensure services were not being wasted.

She said transport had become a major issue for residents of outlying areas, who needed transportation to doctors, health services, shopping, banking and Centrelink.

© 2006 Inverell Times

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