A new trial community transport service, the Mid Canterbury Connector, will launch on Tuesday 12 January 2021.
The Mid Canterbury Connector is a new trial community transport service being co-ordinated by the Safe Communities Ashburton District programme, part of Safer Mid Canterbury. A small van will bring people living in the more rural/remote areas of the district into Ashburton township for medical appointments, doing business with Council, seeing family and friends, shopping, accessing government and social services, etc.
The new service will be trialled for six months and commences on Tuesday 12 January 2021.
On Tuesdays each week, the Connector will pick people up from Mt Somers, Staveley, Methven and Winchmore and drop them off in town for 2-3 hours, before taking them home.
On Wednesdays, the Connector will travel from Rakaia to Chertsey, Fairton/Hakatere Marae, Wakanui, Ashburton Township and down to Hinds, dropping people off in town for 2-3 hours, then taking them home.
Ashburton Deputy Mayor Liz McMillan, Chair of the working group that developed the new service, said, “Our district has no public transport system, and feedback from people living in the more rural/remote areas who do not drive or no longer drive, has told us that there is a need for a service allowing people to travel to Ashburton township. We hope the service will be well supported and help people to feel less isolated, do what they need to do in town and feel more connected to the Ashburton community.”
More information
For information on routes, fares and pick-up places and times, and to make a booking, please call Lesley Symington from Safer Mid Canterbury
03 308 1395, ext 225
