More Melbourne buses hit the road soon, linking outer south-east suburbs with public transport for the first time
August 4, 2010
Community action in Melbourne has led to three new bus services to be funded from the $500 million Victorian Transport Plan.
Transport Minister Martin Pakula announced the services this week, resulting from a community workshop attended by 160 residents in the south-east Waterways–Dingley area.
Since the meeting, 200 community submissions were lodged with DOT.
He says the three new bus routes would offer public transport for the first time to residents of Waterways, Epsom and Dingley, and he thanked local community members for participating in the process.
“In the Victorian Transport Plan, we committed $500 million to improve local bus services across Melbourne, with a focus on boosting bus services into growth areas as they develop,” Pakula says.
“Buses are becoming an increasingly popular mode of transport, particularly for people living in the outer suburbs.”
Member for Mordialloc, Janice Munt welcomed the bus improvements.
“From later this year, a new bus route will operate from Waterways Estate to Mordialloc Station, which means residents of the new areas of Waterways and Epsom will now have access to a bus service for the first time,” Munt says.
Pakula says a review of services across Melbourne made several recommendations for outer south-eastern suburbs, including a future bus link with the Glen Eira Sports and Aquatic Centre, which is currently under construction.
The review recommended extending bus service operating hours linking Elsternwick, Carnegie, Chadstone, Oakleigh and Brighton.
All up, $2 million will be allocated to provide the new services and upgrades to existing south-east Melbourne routes.