The fight to keep licence tests and vehicle checks in Sunshine gained momentum when community members and four Brimbank councillors rallied outside VicRoads’ office last Wednesday.
The rally, the sixth held by the group since VicRoads announced it would cut licence and vehicle check services in Sunshine by early 2018, was well attended despite poor weather.
Rally organiser Peter Thomson said the cause is continuing to gather momentum.
“The event went really well,” he said. “I’d say it was easily our best one yet in terms of the amount of people there and the noise made.
“We easily had 60 people there, if not more, which was a huge turnout given the weather.”
Despite being pleased by the attendance of four Brimbank councillors, Mr Thomson said he was disappointed by the lack of representation from local MPs.
“It was great to see councillors [John] Hedditch, [Duyen Anh] Pham, [Victoria] Borg and [Virginia] Tachos turn up, as they’ve done with each rally,” he said.
“However, the absence of our local MPs was very noticeable.
“We sent out 13 invitations and none of them attended. It was disappointing because a lot of them have said they want to see services maintained here, but [they] aren’t doing anything about it.”
Mr Thomson said he was pleased to see local driving schools were also well represented.
“There were a lot of driving instructors there, which was great to see because this affects them the most,” he said. “This is their livelihoods that are being affected.
“We’re now really hoping to get students to come and join us in the fight, because this is also going to impact those who are planning on going for their licence in the near future.”
The group plans to hold a seventh rally early next month and has started an online petition, which has received 40 signatures in a two-day period.
Details: bit.ly/2z6AovC
