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15th of October 2024, 12:59pm
Parliament of Victoria | Legislative Council

David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan):

My question is for the Minister for Public and Active Transport. My constituent is a single mother in Altona Meadows who shares a car with her 19-year-old son.

Her son often takes the car on Sundays for work, and because the 415 bus does not run on Sundays, she is effectively housebound. In Perth they seem to have mastered the art of bus reform, optimising routes to increase frequency and increasing patronage in the process. They consult with the public on route reconfiguration, stating the benefits of the revised bus routes, and listen to the community’s feedback. It is not that hard.

My constituent asks: will the government add Sunday services to the 415 bus by making efficiencies to the route, and will the minister undertake public consultation to determine if there is community support?

Written Answer
Received: 28 October 2024
Hon Gabrielle Williams MP
(Minister for Government Services, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Public and Active Transport)

I thank the Member for Western Metropolitan Region for his question.

The Allan Labor Government recognises the important role buses play in meeting the travel needs of people living in Melbourne’s growing suburbs. Buses are a vital part of Victoria’s integrated transport system, with around 400 regular bus routes servicing metropolitan Melbourne, and local bus networks operating in regional towns and cities.

In June 2021, we released Victoria’s Bus Plan which sets out how we will start to deliver a modern, productive, environmentally sustainable bus network that increases the number of people choosing to take the bus by delivering simple, safe, reliable, and comfortable journeys. It notes important opportunities for the bus network including leveraging connectivity with the rail network and making the most of investment in infrastructure.

We are continuing to improve the state’s bus network in line with Victoria’s Bus Plan to better meet demand, improve accessibility and performance, and deliver value for money. This includes creating a simpler, faster, and more reliable network.

Nearly 20,000 additional bus services have been added since 2014 and more than 200 bus routes have either been improved or added to Victoria’s bus network since the launch of Victoria’s Bus Plan in 2021, adding thousands more services to the network.

While there are no current plans to upgrade bus services on Route 415, we will consider your feedback as part of our future bus network planning.

[ENDS]

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