Buses dominate aged-care meeting

Complaints about Dunedin’s bus network dominated a meeting convened by the Labour and Green parties to discuss aged care yesterday.

Dunedin North MP David Clark said public transport had not been raised in other centres, which suggested there was a problem in Dunedin.

"Clearly, [public] transport’s not working here very well."

The political parties have convened meetings around the country to hear from older people about their experiences in aged care and home support services. It is a follow-up to the parties’ joint inquiry into aged care in 2010.

Dunedin resident Liz Angelo said changes to the bus network last year had failed because they disadvantaged low-income people and the elderly.

The Waverley-Belleknowes bus service now cut out Canongate, Russell St and Arthur St.

There was also criticism of changes to other routes.

Dunedin author and advocate for the sight impaired Lynley Hood said the importance of public transport to older people was underestimated.

Otago Regional Council support services manager Gerard Collings said targeted consultation was under way with affected residents because of the concern over the Waverley-Belleknowes route.

The process had taken longer than expected, he said.

Mr Collings acknowledged the bus network changes had disadvantaged some people, but said they were necessary for the future of the network.