Priors Bus Service has pulled the plug on the Batemans Bay Summer Bus after a security guard was assaulted on New Year’s Eve.
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The Summer Bus provided safe and cheap transport for drinkers to get home after a night out, but after the weekend’s assault and a rock throwing incident a few weeks ago, Priors’ manager Paul Gilligan said he’d had enough.
According to police, a drunk 25-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman were on a late bus at about 3am when they became loud and abusive, and were told by the security guard to stop or they’d be kicked off.
The 25-year-old man was also allegedly kicking panels inside the bus.
After being warned by the 49-year-old security guard from Maloneys Beach, the man attacked him.
The security guard suffered scratches and a bleeding nose and was taken to hospital.
The attack came about three weeks after a passenger threw a large rock into a bus window after it had dropped him home from the pub.
Police are still investigating both incidents, and no one has been charged.
Mr Gilligan said the violence and abusive behaviour had been building up this season.
“We can’t protect the bus and we can’t protect the employees,” he said.
“They’re smashing up windows one week … and now they’re actually assaulting a security guard.”
The Summer Bus was a Eurobodalla Shire Council co-ordinated service, in hand with the local pubs and clubs.
Council’s roads safety officer Karen Sydenham said she was angry, disappointed and upset.
“All you do is try to provide a service and when it all gets violent and legal matters come into it, it’s so disappointing,” she said.
“Unfortunately, due to a minority, they’ve ruined it for everyone,” she said. “It was also so disappointing this person is local.”
Ms Sydenham has co-ordinated the bus service since it was first set up more than six years ago.
“It was the first thing I did when I became the road safety officer. To me, it’s my baby and I take it personally.”
She said their committee would organise a meeting to look for a “plan B” for next season.
“We terribly regret the inconvenience but the best plan of attack now is for people to organise a lift home before they go out. Don’t rely on taxis, have a designated driver or get someone to pick you up.”
Mr Gilligan said he wouldn’t consider bringing the Summer Bus back anytime in the future.
“Under the current arrangements, you can’t organise it. It’s not suitable for travelling today.”
