A BUS trial that helps workers get from Robinvale to farms and processing facilities at Carina West and Liparoo will resume in either the last week of this month or early in February.
Swan Hill Rural City Council director of community and cultural services, Bruce Myers, said he would be in Robinvale next week to finalise a timetable for the service along with the start date.
Mr Myers said after a slow start, the 2023 trial started to gain some serious traction and there were strong expectations it could become a permanent fixture.
He said that with changes to the initial funding model, the 2024 program is also being supported by industry contributions.
The initial trial started in January last year and ran until June 30, offering 16 stops along the route, including Select Harvests and Bright Light Agribusiness’ (BLA) processing plants.
The general manager for processing operations at BLA, Anita Voutier, said a significant number of casual staff used the Robinvale worker bus last season.
She praised service operators for being responsive to issues and communicated well with the company.
“As long as the bus can service our plant operating hours we will be encouraging all our Robinvale based staff to utilise this service for the 2024 season,” she said.
“Not all households in Robinvale have access to a car and some residents don’t have a driver’s licence, making it hard to gain employment or work experience.”
Workforce Australia providers and representatives from the horticulture sector were involved setting up the bus trial, helping shape the route and the schedule.
To raise awareness of the Robinvale worker bus, the Robinvale Euston Workforce Network ran a See It Industry Tour for staff at two employment services organisations, CVGT and MADEC and six prospective employees.
As a result of the tour a number of prospective employees were offered work.
While passenger numbers were low to start with, interest in the service grew and it was taking an average of 17 people to and from their workplace.
On several occasions more than 20 passengers boarded the bus.
The bus trial was initially funded by the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) and Swan Hill Rural City Council managed the trial.
In 2024, industry is contributing funds to the bus trial, as well as SHRCC and DTP.
