Opal Fares Freeze Except For Weekends NSW Parliamentary Secretary For Minister Of Transport And Roads, John Sidoti MP

 I 'll let you know that for over 6 1/2 years I have and will wear my Public Transport cap on behalf of the community to get the deserved services, infrastructure and fares for the commuters of Mount Druitt and surrounding suburbs.

My history of getting involved as a community advocate for public transport and of fairly recent community advocate came by accident,  by fortune, with the will the blessing of God and most important embraced by the community.

So you can  check the earlier  history  by Click on Save Our Bus Services, Mount Druitt & Surrounding Suburbs blogspot post.

You can also check on a another blogspot that I have created over the years (over 200,000 visits) Mount Druitt Commuters Improvement Group Inc

Since, I found out that NSW IPART* had increased public transport fares as from 1st July 2016,  inclusive of the free trips after 8 weeks, with a major severe charging  50% of the current journey,  I have been following this up for Mount Druitt and wider community.
I have written (electronically) directly to the NSW Minister of Transport, in May 2016 in total disappointment of these public transport fares increases that will hit the pursues and wallets of our local commuters within Mount Druitt and surrounding suburbs.

Suddenly, the NSW Secretary For Minister of Transport And Roads, John Sidoti MP has written a letter to myself dated 1st July 2016 about the Opal fares and advised  that there will be a freeze on Opal card fares until 17th July 2017. NSW government has also announced they agreed with the increase of 50 per percent discount of fares after 8 trips, rather than sticking to the free fares offered to win  and entice commuters across from paper tickets, whilst introducing the new Opal card electronic ticketing system.

On the letter, there is no indication of improvements of buses or bus services within  Mount Druitt on weekends with earlier time tables and later time table to meet commuter requirements for weekends. I will write back to explain that until bus services are improved within Mount Druitt and surrounding suburbs, Mount Druitt commuters should not be paying extra fares - this is unfair. In fact, the  whole of weekend fares should be free. Can NSW IPART Members or the NSW Parliamentary Secretary For the Minister of Transpor And Roads, come to Mount Druitt catch buses from within Mount from Sundays at 6am onwards (like others areas in Sydney) to reach outer suburbs or even from the outer suburbs, heading to Mount Druitt hub and charge increase fares to our community?

In my books the answer is, 'No' to increased fares! 'Yes' to trying out our buses on 6am or onwards to catch these buses on Sundays.

The quote, These changes strike the right balance between offering benefits and rewards to encourage customers to use public transport...' is not fair when  there is no reward for putting up fares 50 percent after 8 trips. Again, NSW Parliament should reconsider and to admit no fare increases since January 2015, that is just over 18 months ago and home loan interests are low as well as retailers  having sales all the time - promoting reduced 'prices'. Reduced prices on public transport within NSW gets people to commute using public transport and even new commuters may find it  economical to use these services.

I appreciate receiving the letter of frozen fares approved by the government but the leisure and pleasure times are when the fares should remain free. This promotes public transport not deters public transport users/commuters. I also recommend our local Mount Druitt MP Edmond Atalla, will take up this issue in NSW Parliament, so the people of  Mount Druitt are heard.

What do you you all think as a community? 

Here, below is letter received today from John Sidoti MP:

 * NSW Independent Pricing And Review Tribunal

Click for previous electronic Message sent to NSW Minister of Transport And Roads, Mr Andrew Constance