COMMUNITY groups are calling for the daily Camperdown to Timboon bus service to be extended to Port Campbell in a move aimed at boosting tourism and trade.
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They are proposing a two-year trial that could begin this spring to take advantage of increased visitor numbers over the warmer months and even link to iconic tourist sites along the coast.
The plan is a combined project of the Camperdown-Timboon Rail Trail Committee, Advance Camperdown, Port Campbell Progress Group and Twelve Apostles Tourism and Business Association.
Representatives met in Port Campbell last week to brainstorm the idea of having the existing return bus service, which runs from Timboon to meet train services at Camperdown, extend its link to the coast.
Advance Camperdown representative Terry Brain said if the push by south-west councils for an additional Melbourne to Warrnambool train service was not successful, the bus connection to the coast should be considered.
He said the proposal would allow visitors to extend their stay in the town, with the option of day trips, and encourage tourists from the coast to travel into the hinterland areas.
It would also attract residents, particularly children, wanting to travel to the beach during the summer period, he said.
Rail trail committee members Pat and Ric Robertson said the plan would give rail trail users a link from Timboon to the Great Ocean Road if the bus was capable of transporting bikes.
They said it would also allow people on the Great Ocean Walk to continue on to the rail trail.
Lari Weber, from the Port Campbell Progress Association, said the bus connection would boost local trade by allowing people to shop and have a day out in neighbouring towns.
Twelve Apostles Tourism and Business Association representative John McInerney suggested the service could run as a shuttle to the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge, increasing links to the world- renowned tourist attractions.
A V/Line bus service runs through Port Campbell three days a week, connecting to Warrnambool, but there are no public transport links stopping at the popular sites.
“It’s almost impossible to get to the Twelve Apostles, which is probably the most iconic tourist attraction in the state, without your own transport,” Mr McInerney said.
He said the many tourist coaches which travelled along the Great Ocean Road filled with day trippers from Melbourne brought no economic benefits to the south-west.
The coaches stop in Apollo Bay for lunch and at Colac for dinner. Many have a short afternoon break in Port Campbell, where there was a “very limited spend” as tourists took the opportunity for a toilet break and maybe buy an ice-cream.
Mr McInerney said a Stawell to Halls Gap bus connection had been popular, particularly with international backpackers who arrived on the train and then connected to Halls Gap, where they stayed an average of three or four days.
The groups said that to be successful, a service would need to be well promoted to key markets such as backpackers, youth hostels and senior citizens.
They are now hoping their idea will be raised as part of the state government’s regional network development plan, with consultation due to begin this month.