New buses for Pyramid Hill, Leongatha and Mirboo North

Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Jacinta Allan told the Community Transport Roundtable in Bendigo that an additional $150,000 investment would include $50,000 to improve transport access to the Art Gallery of Ballarat for up to 2,000 students from 40 schools in and around Western Victoria, $50,000 for an East Gippsland Community Transport Directory and Audit, and $50,000 to trial a mobile phone application to view service details in real-time.

OTHER NEWS: Tributes flow for former Bendigo MP Steve Gibbons, dead aged 72

The closest bus in Pyramid hill to take residents to medical appointments is at the moment an 80 km round trip.

The new community transport service will be established by the Pyramid Hill Neighbourhood house and will significantly increase accessibility to services.

The funding forms part of the Flexible Local Transport Solutions Program (FLTSP), which provides funding for local transport initiatives particularly in regional Victoria, in partnership with local councils and community organisations.

"Our Flexible Local Transport Solutions Program is giving regional Victorians more transport options and improving access to essential services such as medical centres and shops," said deputy premier and minister for transport infrastructure Jacinta Allan.

"We're supporting small-scale local transport initiatives across regional Victoria to help connect people to the places they need to go and improve safety on the roads locals use every day."

If you're reading this it's because you're a loyal subscriber to the Bendigo Advertiser. If you want to get more out of your subscription join the discussion on the Bendigo Advertiser's subscriber group on Facebook today.