SOUTH & WEST GIPPSLAND TRANSPORT GROUP MEDIA RELEASES JULY 18 2017: No more apathy, get on board!', South Gippsland Sentinel-Times, Tuesday the 18th of July 2017, page 12 by Matthew Male. Image Caption: Cr Andrew McEwen, chair of the South West Gippsland Transport Group, said now's the time to support the campaign for better public transport services. Letter To The Editor: “Times they are a changing', South Gippsland Sentinel-Times, Tuesday the 18th of July 2017, Letters section page 20. Suddenly almost overnight the return of the rail to South Gippsland has gone from Nair impossible to a real possibility. The proposed airport, the growing congestion on the Monash and to a lesser extent the proposed development at Port Anthony have crystallized peoples thinking and started to change deeply held opinions. Talking about the return of the rail in the past has tended to evoke two deeply held responses. One that it makes sense to have another way to Melbourne; the other bred by two broken promises by Labour governments has produced despair and resignation. But a divided house never prevails. South Gippsland has been its own worst enemy in seeking improvements to transport. It has been too often the uncomplaining mendicant waiting for the scraps off the table. Yet overnight the airport with support, we understand of the Wagner Group (Toowoomba private airport), Singapore and Middle East investors is a game changer. Not only 3500 local jobs, but it will demand the logistic systems to support export of our high quality produce to Asia. Politics is the art of the possible. Until people see not only the urgency, but the possibility action will not follow. I believe we are undergoing a Sea change. Two Mayors have seen the opportunity for it return. There is a growing realization that when the rail returns for freight the passenger traffic will be a major stimulus to new resident, new businesses and tourists. Towns on the line like Nyora, Loch, Korumburra & Leongatha, will boom. Korumburra will become the new Daylesford sooner rather than later. The value of properties along other lines which has seen return of passenger services have risen by 20% as well as local population growing. We have a long way to go. We need an integrated transport plan and solution for SW Gippsland. It is not only about return of passenger train services. Primary it’s about freight and freight access to Melbourne and the ports; is about having our fair share of bus services; is about have sufficient invested in our road network to facilitate communication, farming, business and commerce. We have to stop being so meek and be prepared to join common cause and take action for our fair share. The reality is that there is another 300,000 people are moving into SE Melbourne/Gippsland. Our one and only transport corridor to Melbourne won’t cope and it will make life intolerable and freight and bus movements more time consuming and costly. Join our Facebook page for SWGTG. We are aiming to have 5000 people as a platform for changing priorities at the next state election. Join us and standup up for South Gippsland! Cr Andrew McEwen Chair SWGTG