A NEW $10 return shuttle bus service from Sutherland Shire to Star City may end up being used by most passengers as a cheap ride into town and not to the casino to gamble, some residents say.
Social welfare groups believe the introduction of the route 68 Star Express would increase problem gambling in families already struggling to cope with high interest rates and petrol prices.
The shuttle service departs Cronulla four times a day and makes 36 stops in Woolooware, Caringbah, Miranda and Sylvania.
It then makes a further 52 stops in Blakehurst, Carss Park, Kogarah Bay, Beverley Park, Ramsgate, Monterey, Brighton-Le-Sands, Rockdale and Kyeemagh, bringing the total number of stops in St George - combined with the existing route 66 Star Express via Hurstville - to 88.
The second stop on the shire route each day is outside Cronulla Public School at 8.30am.
A Star City spokesman said it was casino patrons from the shire who indicated they wanted a convenient and affordable way to get to the casino, particularly in light of high petrol prices. He said the buses were for people who were already members of the casino; however, there was no way of monitoring whether non-members would actually visit
the casino.
A spokeswoman for the community services division of the Salvation Army, Hurstville, said the extra bus service would increase demand on material aid.
"It will also place a higher demand on community services in St George and Sutherland Shire,'' she said.
David King, the co-ordinator of the gambling counselling division of Wesley Mission - which operates Lifeline Sutherland - said the bus service would increase accessibility to gambling.
"Accessibility to gambling is one of the factors in gambling and takes it a step further to problem gambling,'' Mr King said.
"The casino have obviously done their sums and are still going to make some money out if it,'' he said.
"They are a legitimate business, they are entitled to do so, but in the shire we're talking middle to lower socio-economics so there's some real vulnerable people out there.''
The $10 ticket is fully redeemable by Total Star Rewards silver, gold and platinum members and Endeavour Room cardholders.
Total Star Rewards blue and privilege members receive a $10 food voucher.
A return train trip from Cronulla to Central during off-peak hours costs $6.40 for adults and a return light rail trip from Central to Star City costs $4.50 for adults.
Star City operates 10 Star Express services in Sydney, including another new service from Liverpool.
The distance to the casino is about 38 kilometres from Liverpool, 31 kilometres from Cronulla and 25 kilometres from Hurstville.
There are seven return trips made daily by the Star Express services.
Is gambling a problem for you? G-line (NSW) counselling service: 1800 633 635.
What do you think of the new Star City service?