By LUKE VOOGT
A lack of public transport could leave footy fans stranded tonight (Friday) after possibly the biggest Cats game of the year in Geelong.
A public transport lobby group yesterday (Thursday) slammed the absence of bus services after Geelong night games.
“It’s very disappointing that local politicians, the City of Greater Geelong and the Geelong Football Club all seem to be ignorant or uncaring about the problem”, said Paul Westcott, the spokesperson for the Public Transport Users Association’s Geelong branch.
Wet weather that closed Kardinia Park to car parking at the last two home games had worsened the public transport shortage, Mr Westcott said.
“The banning of car access due to the boggy surface of Kardinia Park has highlighted the totally inadequate local public transport for night games.
“Although access to the ground was drastically reduced, there was no effort at all to provide an alternative.”
Mr Westcott called for bus services at both day and night games in Geelong.
“That would help ease parking problems permanently.”
Public Transport Victoria (PTV) ran trial buses after Geelong began hosting night matches in 2012 but stopped the service after just two matches, Mr Westcott said.
“We were shocked that, after only two night games, PTV abandoned the bus services without any publicity.“
The trial found that 80 per cent of match patrons were “very unlikely” to use the service, a PTV spokesperson said.
The trial buses had only 105 passengers, the spokesperson said.
A subsequent trial with adjustments also had few patrons.
State Geelong MP Christine Couzens said PTV was not notified of the recent parking closures at Kardina Park.
“I’ve contacted the minister’s office and they’ll ask PTV to investigate the current situation for public access at Simonds Stadium for the football.”
Parking and transport issues could mar tonight’s (Friday’s) blockbuster between premiership contenders Geelong and the Western Bulldogs, with rain forecast.
The game will have added interest as Corey Enright sets a new games record for the Cats and Jimmy Bartel plays his 300th match for Geelong.
But a council spokesperson said the car parks should be open.
