Our roads are riddled with potholes, which are slowing down ambulances and making this situation worse.

At the same time the appalling road conditions are jeopardising the safety of both our Wimmera paramedics and their patients.

Our paramedics are trying their best to help people and the condition of our roads must be incredibly frustrating for them both from a response time and the ability to do their job while in transit.

It does not matter where you live, every minute counts when you need an ambulance.

Our paramedics and ambulance community officers are working exceptionally hard and doing their very best in challenging circumstances.

But they have been forgotten by the Andrews Labor government.

The Andrews government must immediately reverse cuts to the country roads budget and support our paramedics in the essential work they do to ensure our local people can access medical treatment when needed.

I am continuing my call for road hazards to be reported directly to VicRoads through my website www.emmakealy.com or by phoning 131 170.

This will help give VicRoads the data they need to demonstrate that Labor’s cuts are devastating our local roads.

EMMA KEALY

Nationals Member for Lowan

HORSHAM V/Line users face a three-and-a-half-hour trip to get home on V/Line trains and connecting coaches.

The Liberals and Nationals believe the city-centric Andrews Labor government should not make this travel any more difficult when the new Caroline Springs railway station opens in Melbourne’s middle distance western suburbs.

The weekday early evening Southern Cross to Ararat train currently departs at 6.26pm. 

A new timetable will start for Caroline Springs’ opening.

If the 27-minute gap between the previous ‘stopping all stations’ train to Bacchus Marsh and the Ararat-bound train that connects by coach to Horsham, Dimboola and Nhill remains similar, Labor’s Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan and V/Line’s soon to start chief executive James Pinder may want to slyly slip in an extra stop for the Ararat train at Caroline Springs, with Ms Allan hoping no one west of Bacchus Marsh notices the change.

Passengers travelling to Horsham, Dimboola and beyond could be unable to secure a seat at Southern Cross.

They would have to stand on the train for about 25 minutes until passengers alighted at Caroline Springs. 

This would be especially difficult for senior citizens after a lengthy, tiring day in Melbourne.

Ms Allan should for once copy Member for Lowan Emma Kealy and put western Victorians first, as Horsham, Dimboola and Nhill residents have far less frequent trains – only Great Southern Rail’s twice weekly run from Adelaide to Southern Cross –  or connecting road coaches.

DAVID HODGETT 

Opposition Public Transport Spokesman

YES Oliver Guthrie (Mail-Times, November 16), we can move water every which-way through pipes, but as you know, it costs money … lots of it.

Instead of suggesting I am an apologist for the Nationals and GWMWater, come up with a source of that money and do not complain about a rate increase as a result.

GARY HOWARD

Quantong