AN early Liberal Party election promise of "vital" bus shelters for the Yarra Ranges has been laughed off by the state government, which says the work has already been contracted and paid for.
Coalition leader Ted Baillieu and Monbulk Liberal candidate Matthew Mills announced last week that a Liberal government would improve security and protect commuters by building 10 new bus shelters at a total cost of $200,000.
"We're going to upgrade these bus stops and turn them into bus shelters and provide basic protection for basic public transport services in Monbulk," Mr Mills said.
He said the shelters would be fitted with solar-powered lighting to improve security and make it easier for bus drivers to locate bus stops at night.
Sylvan Glades resident Harold Marsden said he would welcome a bus shelter. "It can be very sloppy when it's been raining. Many of us have walking sticks so it can be a bit awkward. Cars come whizzing by and often come rather close if you are sitting there."
However, Public Transport Minister Martin Pakula said work on building bus shelters was already under way as part of a $193 million program across metropolitan Melbourne.
He said Adshel was contracted in 2007 to do the work and had already installed 31 shelters in the Yarra Ranges, with a further 10 to be installed in the coming year.
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