The Better Buses for the West campaign has responded to the announcement of a $400 million package of Growth Area Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC) funding from the Victorian government, calling it “life changing”.
On April 24, the Victorian government announced it is supporting families with the critical infrastructure required to make fast growing suburbs better places to live, including public transport and road upgrades.
A total of 37 projects will be funded through the $400 million GAIC including 10 from the Growth Areas Public Transport Fund.
“We know more Victorians want to live close to transport, schools and essential services – and this investment will deliver exactly the kind of infrastructure Victorian families need in our fastest growing suburbs,” Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan says.
“We’re investing in better transport links – from better bus routes, to upgraded train stations, to more cycling and walking paths to ensure these growing communities can access jobs, schools and services,” Victorian public transport minister Gabrielle Williams says.
The package includes $61 million for a new bus route between Wyndham Vale station and the Harpley and Cornerstone estates, as well as a new fixed route bus for Tarneit and Laverton North in place of the current flexiride service.
Better Buses for the West says the services will be life changing for many residents of the culturally diverse City of Wyndham who currently live in places with a lack of public transport.
However, Sustainable Cities spokesperson Adam Bain says more communication and clarification around service levels and route alignments is needed to give residents and homebuyers clarity about these routes.
Ideally, Bain says the services would be similar or better than the new 475 route in the Sunbury area, which runs 20 minutes every weekday.
“While this is good news for communities in those areas, it is vital that the government doesn’t lose focus from delivering the bus plan, announced almost three years ago,” Bain says.
“Established residential areas are not eligible for GAIC funding, yet still require service and route upgrades after decades of underfunding and inaction. We cannot let the west fall behind.
“Unfortunately, this round of GAIC funding resulted in no new bus services to the City of Melton communities such as Deanside, Mt Atkinson and Thornhill Park, which lack meaningful public transport.
“These communities will wait with bated breath for much needed services in the next round of GAIC funding, or sooner if the government recognises the needs of the community in the upcoming state budget.”
The newly funded government school in Wollahra will be located one kilometre away from the nearest bus stop in a public transport blackspot. Bain says delivery of a bus service must come soon, or vulnerable families won’t be able to send their children to this school safely without costing the parents valuable time driving to the school, causing local traffic.
“It is also important that the government begins planning to properly use the newly announced $60 million Ison Road overpass for bus services, connecting Harpley and surrounding estates to Werribee, which is a critical activity centre for employment and business in the west,” Bain says.
“The community in the west welcomes these long awaited new routes, but more still needs to be done. The government has an opportunity to continue the positive momentum of these substantive, but piecemeal changes, and commit to reform to create a fast, frequent and connected network across the west.”