Moves to establish a trial Loop Bus service for Whitianga

GreyPower Mercury Bay and the Whitianga Residents and Ratepayers Association teamed up to hold a public meeting recently about a proposal to provide a Loop Bus service in Whitianga.

Denis Tegg, Waikato Regional Councillor for Thames-Coromandel, provided details of costings, potential timetables and routes, and how the service could be established and funded.

The meeting was well attended by local people and organisations keen to see a trial established and resolved to work on a business proposal which could be used to gather support for a 6 month trial of the service. If the trial proves successful, then a case could be made to turn that into a permanent option. At that stage, funding will be available from LTSA and support is available from Waikato Regional Council.

A programme of fundraising activities will begin early next year to raise the money needed for a 6-month trial, which is estimated to be around $45,000.