Costa Berries Tasmania is trialling a four-week bus service to support local workers travelling to its farms in the Devonport area.
Cameron Folder, Costa Berries Regional Manager, said the business was partnering with local provider Merseylink to provide an additional local Devonport bus service.
“The service will commence on Monday 14 December and operate seven days a week except for Christmas Day,” Mr Folder said.
“Our recruitment team receives regular feedback that a lack of transport is a barrier for people attending work.
“Analysis of our local applications supports this and indicates a number of potential workers do not have access to transport.
“Costa has listened to those concerns and as a result we are partnering with Merseylink to subsidise a local Devonport bus service.
“The service will connect locals in Devonport to our East Devonport strawberry farm and Wesley Vale strawberry and raspberry farms providing a morning pick up and return travel.”
The cost is $2.50 each way with travellers asked to have small amounts of change to pay the driver.
“We hope this new bus service will help overcome a barrier to employment for local residents,” Mr Folder said.
“To date more than 200 Tasmanians have commenced work with Costa for the summer harvest.”
Costa Berries Tasmania is still actively recruiting and anyone who would like to join the team can apply at costagroup.com.au/pick-adventure or by calling into our East Devonport recruitment office.
Costa Berries/Merseylink bus timetable
0515 Opposite Devonport High, Best Street, Devonport
0520 Devonport Community House, Morris Avenue, Devonport
0525 Opposite Brown Bear, Berrigan Road, Miandetta
0535 Corner Torquay Road and Caroline Street, East Devonport
0540 Strawberry Farm, corner Upper Drew and Bovill Street, East Devonport
0550 Strawberry Farm, 330 Mill Road, Wesley Vale
0555 Raspberry Farm 339 Wrights Lane, Northdown.
Return services from the Northdown Raspberry Farm on the reverse route depart at 2pm and 3pm.
