After splitting from a long-established family run operation two years ago, Dominic Sita continues to buy up bus businesses, adding Broadmeadows to the mix
By David Goeldner | June 1, 2011
Further rationalisation of greater Melbourne’s bus operations took place recently with Kastoria Buslines Managing Director Dominic Sita’s acquisition of Broadmeadows Bus Service on May 24.
A week on from the buyout, Sita is relocating Broadmeadow’s 48 vehicles to his Western Avenue Westmeadows depot – a stone’s throw from Melbourne airport – bringing the total fleet under Sita’s Northern Transit Holdings to 140.
Under Northern Transit Holdings, Sita now controls Kastoria Buslines, Nationwide Tours, Seymour Passenger Service and Broadmeadows Bus Service, the latter formerly owned by Melbourne bus identities the Loughnan and Wright families.
Sita’s rapid expansion along Melbourne’s northern corridor effectively cuts a bus operations path from Moonee Ponds to Broadmeadows, with an outpost at Seymour.
Sita split from the western Melbourne-based Sita Group in July 2009, branching out on his own, picking up established bus businesses at a rapid rate.
“When I started on my own with Kastoria I had a fleet of about 40 vehicles,” Sita says.
In August 2010, Sita bought the Seymour operation, picking up another 55 vehicles.
Sita’s combined business interests cover route, charter and school contract work, with the Broadmeadows acquisition doubling his DEECD-contracted school runs from 18 to 36.
Sita says Broadmeadows Bus Service staff will relocate, along with the fleet, across to the Kastoria premises at Westmeadows.
He says the businesses will operate as usual, with Kastoria route services continuing out of Moonee Ponds and Broadmeadows servicing the Craigieburn area.
Sita says he hasn’t yet decided if the livery will change across the fleet, as each will continue to trade under their pre-existing colour schemes.
Sita has invested heavily in the buyout, taking the plunge by ‘thinking outside of the square’.
He sees the Broadmeadows venture as an investment in the future, getting in at least five years ahead of time by buying the business now with financial backing.
The acquisition is viewed as big news inside Victoria’s bus circles, with many watching Dominic Sita’s progress since his departure from the Sita Group about two years ago.
“I’m not one to make grand statements, but the word is spreading around,” says Sita.