Mayor Graeme Massey said V-Line had stop running a bus from Ballarat to Ouyen on a Friday night.

He said the service ran through Rupanyup, Glenorchy, Warracknabeal, Beulah, Hopetoun and Ouyen.

“Our attempts to get V-Line to reinstate that bus seem to have fallen on deaf ears,” he said.

Council agreed at a meeting on Wednesday to write to the state government about the issue.

“This part of Victoria no longer has any access to V-Line public transport,” Cr Massey said.

“That is very remissive of the state government.”

Councillors said the bus was often used by students in Ballarat and Melbourne, who wanted to return home for the weekend, footballers at Hopetoun, and people attending medical appointments. 

Cr Jean Wise said many elderly people in the shire were now unable to get to appointments.

She said the bus gave people an opportunity to get to Melbourne and back in a day.

“If they have to go to the city now, it will involve an overnight stay,” she said.

“These are the people who can’t afford overnight accommodation, that’s why they take the bus.

“There is a need to provide a service that goes to Melbourne and back in one day.”

Cr Kylie Zanker said people in regional area deserved better.

“It’s about equal living and choices for everyone,” she said.

“No matter where we live, we should have these options available to us.”

Cr Helen Ballentine said the bus was cancelled because not enough people used it.

“Children wanting to come home from school or university on a Friday night can’t do that now,” Cr Ballentine said.

“These young people aren’t coming every weekend, so of course the statistics are going to say there is a regular number, but it is a service we need because there is no other way to get those students home now.”

Cr Ballentine said the bus could also have an affect on tourism.

“It just makes us more isolated,” he said.

Cr Tom Hamilton said the change was made without any community consultation.

“Basic services to regional Victoria are something we can’t let slip,” he said.

V-Line has been contacted for comment.