NEWS ARTICLE: 'CANDIDATES BACK RAIL'S RETURN', The Great Southern Star - Leongatha, Tuesday the 18th of October 2016, page 11, by Brad Lester. Image Caption: Making a point: from left, Chris Cantlon, David Rasmus and Brian Hess of the South and West Gippsland Transport Group welcome council candidates’ support for the return of rail services. They are at the Korumburra Railway Station. MOST candidates in the South Gippsland Shire Council election support the return of rail services to South Gippsland. That is according to a survey conducted by the South and West Gippsland Transport Group. Twenty of the 32 candidates standing took part in the survey, which also asked candidates if they supported the funding of an integrated transport plan for South West Gippsland at a cost of $30,000 to $40,000, in conjunction with four other local councils. The group’s acting chair David Rasmus said, “Our next major goal is to secure the newly elected council’s formal support for the integrated transport plan funding, in conjunction with the region’s other local councils. “This is a precursor to lobbying for a major transport infrastructure and investment plan and commitment for this region from the State Government.” The South and West Gippsland Transport Group was founded as a community action group in 2011. “Our sole interest is in achieving a positive transport outcome for the residents and the businesses in our shire and region,” Mr Rasmus said. “We have been lobbying local, state and federal government and candidates of all political persuasions in all elections from the outset. “Earlier this year we started an online petition for the return of rail to Leongatha which was signed by 2403 supporters. This petition was delivered to South Gippsland Shire Council and the Legislative Assembly of Victoria. “We also submitted proposals for improved transport in South Gippsland - including returning rail to Leongatha - to all candidates for McMillan at the federal election.” Mr Rasmus said without an integrated transport plan - essentially a feasibility study - first being undertaken, the State Government was unlikely to seriously entertain an investment in regional transport infrastructure in South Gippsland. “We are the forgotten region and if we don’t stand up for ourselves and bring this issue to the forefront in Spring Street, no one else will,” he said. “South Gippsland was not even on the State Government’s radar in the recently published Regional Network Plan.” He said where rail and integrated transport has returned and/or been further optimised in other regional areas such as Ararat and Bairnsdale, more people choose to move there, property prices rise and more rates are collected. “More services and businesses are attracted to the area or are convinced to remain and are made viable. But here in South Gippsland we are stagnating, shops are closing, services are leaving, and we are turning into an economic backwater, all the while being asked to pay more for less,” Mr Rasmus said.