The South & West Gippsland Transport Group can confirm that the petition, ‘Return of the Leongatha to Melbourne Passenger Trains on the South Gippsland Rail Corridor was successfully tabled unanimously by Cr. Andrew McEwen at the South Gippsland Shire Council Meeting on Wednesday the 16th of December, 2015. The petition is expected to be responded to at the Ordinary Council Meeting on Wednesday the 24th of February. Achieving municipal support from South Gippsland Shire Council would be the first step towards preparing and delivering an integrated transport plan for the region, which is an ambition that we expect to achieve in the short term. Although it has been difficult to negotiate and work with the South Gippsland Shire Council on the issue of a rail return to Leongatha at times in the past despite it being identified as a 'Priority Project' in 2013, the South & West Gippsland Transport Group would welcome Council support. This would present an opportunity to secure local government support and funding when preparing plans for public transport and infrastructure projects and will allow an economic and justifiable case for rail in South Gippsland to be made. Message sent on behalf of the South & West Gippsland Transport Group. “The South & West Gippsland Transport Group aims to improve public transport. It is advocating the return of rail services to Leongatha, to establish a rail loop between Cranbourne and Pakenham and to improve bus services between towns and Melbourne”.