Another change for a local lobby group, may they succeed, but be mindful of leaving public transport and buses behind their agenda.
I know the original history of Mound Druitt Commuters Improvement Group Inc. and also Save Our Bus Services, Mount Druitt & Surrounding Suburbs as I was both founding President and Chair.
Originally, is was a bus lobby group, when 3 bus services were removed from the area and that is what those members of the group wanted in 2009. I was a an unknown member of the community, yet I was entrusted, to lead a group of passionate people to meetings, speaking to Local and State politicians, Local and State bureaucrats and to bus drivers and Managers of Westbus and Busways.
Although, I grew so much with the community to help the community, our backs were against the wall yet we were lobbying against two members of the 'Government of the Day' as their were many reasons for that to happen.
When you speak to Council bureaucrats about removal of bus services, although they were supportive, they had very little power to get the NSW Government to change their mind. I do thank the Manager of Traffic in Council as he wanted groups like ours to engage and be involved, by inviting us to Blacktown City Public Transport Forums, each year.
Then you speak to Bus drivers, ' It is up to management that decide on bus routes'. Then you speak to 'Busways Management' they blame the NSW Government for removing bus services and then when you talk to NSW Transport Spokesperson, they advised it is based on surveys, feedback, ticket sales, local patronage and they never made that decision to remove bus services, that was left with the NSW of Minister of Transport and Roads.
So the finger pointing still happens today. Yet I must say that although the two local State Members at the time, Mr Richard Amery, Member for Mount Druitt and the then Member for Londonderry, Allan Shearan, now I believe were not to blame - yet they copped the brunt of it. Based on the facts presented to us. Their NSW Minister of Transport, Mr David Campbell had the pen that agreed to remove bus services. Why didn't our local members know abut it at the time?
If they did, would they have prevented these bus services to operate? I think they might have if they knew there was going to be upheaval. So the finger pointing went on and on and still does.
So this is when I placed th my vision of changing the name of the group to looking after all types of public transport and that meant: taxis and trains, bus top infrastructure and that why we came to an agreement to be called ,'Mount Druitt Commuters Improvement Group Inc'. Which sounded so official and had a great ring to it that Mr Richard Amery, then Member of Mount Druitt and the Member for Pittwater, Mr Ray Williams, mentioned the website in NSW Parliament at times, it was getting very popular.
I did not renew my membership for 2 years for a few personal reasons as well as I remember that I published a post congratulating Richard Amery for his service to the NSW Parliament and Mount Druitt constituents and at a meeting, it was raised that I didn't have group approval to do this. So, that is why I have gone to 'Whyilovemountdruitt'.
Now the group wants to become a Mount Druitt main community group covering public transport as part of many local issues. The idea is good but as advised by one of my idols: Joan, are we losing the main picture, by changing name.
There are a few groups in Mount Druitt but no major lobby groups, this could be a good concept to get the community being active and support this group. I know one thing they will not be able to maintain their current website/blogspot - a new website may be created. I'll have to ensure that records of the website is ready for archive and referred to the 'Mount Druitt Historical Society'. Also a new Face Book Page with new illustrations and possible organise T-Shirts for the community with the funds they have, promoting their new group. Now a new era is happening.
As for the name change, I think basically, Mount Druitt Progressive Community' could be a great name change, So we will find out after they have their Meeting this week on this Saturday.
Click here for first post of Mount Druitt Commuters Improvement Group Inc.
Click here for 2nd post and a historical one
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