The Southern Mallee Transport Connections Partnership (SMTCP) and its project team are currently working on the following projects.

G-NETS Funding  (Pauline Thorson)

The Partnership is seeking funding for the Gannawarra Non-Emergency Transport Service, in order to ensure that it continues well into the future.  If you would like to donate to this worthy cause, then please refer to the G-NETS donations page. A letter and marketing DVD will be sent to all relevant stakeholders and various politicians during July, requesting assistance for funding.

V/Line Timetables  (Pauline Thorson)

Many rural V/Line timetables do not allow for people to arrive in Melbourne early enough to attend specialist's morning clinics.  This places added stress on passengers, and necessitates an overnight stay.  The partnership will begin discussions with the Department of Transport and V/Line  in order to develop an alternative timetable on the Swan Hill to Bendigo / Melbourne route that allows for an earlier arrival into Melbourne.

Regional Projects

The partnership will undertake discussions with neighbouring areas, in order to scope the possible development of a regional transport assistance hub in Bendigo.

State-Wide Projects

The Southern Mallee Transport Connections Partnership will participate in discussions during August and September, in order to scope the development of various state-wide projects.

Winter Newsletter  (Pauline Thorson)

A Winter Newsletter has been developed and will be distributed across the Buloke, Gannawarra and Swan Hill municipalities.  People can access the Partnership's newsletters by referring to the 'newsletter' section of this website.

Charlton Local Community Bus Service  (Denese Smith)

The Charlton Local Community Bus Service marketing postcard will be distributed across Charlton during July.

Woomelang to Bendigo Trial Saturday Bus Service  (Denese Smith)

The Woomelang to Bendigo marketing poster has been updated with the new Department of Transport Fares, and will be redistributed across the entire project area.  The new fares will also be updated on the SMTCP website.

Gannawarra Shire-Wide Transport Brochures  (Denese Smith)

The new Gannawarra Transport Brochure will be distributed to every household across the Gannawarra Shire during July.

Swan Hill Shire-Wide Transport Brochures  (Pauline Thorson)

The draft Shire-Wide Transport Brochure will be finalized during July, and then distributed across the entire Swan Hill municipality.

Regional Medical Companion Project  (Pauline Thorson)

The Regional Medical Companion Project was launched in the Gannawarra Shire during July, and was covered by the local media.

Melbourne Medical Companion Project Funding  (Pauline Thorson / Denese Smith)

Various opportunities for one-off and recurrent funding for the Melbourne Medical Companion Project will be pursued during July.  The formal MMCP partnering agreement will be photocopied and distributed to all partners across Victoria.

Southern Mallee Transport Connections Partnering Agreement  (Denese Smith)

The SMTCP Partnering Agreement will be distrbuted to all official partners of the Southern Mallee Transport Connections Partnership as well as the Department of Planning and Community Development (Central and Regional Offices) during July.

Reporting  (Pauline Thorson)

All end of year reporting to the Department of Planning and Community Development will be undertaken during July, and an 'project update report' will be finalised prior to the next scheduled SMTCP Board Meeting.

Patronage  (Denese Smith)

Patronage of bus services is monitored on a monthly basis.  The Bus Patronage Data Sheet will be updated during July.  Please click on the following link for the most recent information.  -   chart end june 2011.pdf