Parliament of Victoria | Legislative Council | Constituency Questions
9th of September, 2025
David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan):
My question is for the Minister for Public and Active Transport.
A constituent in Newport is frustrated by the lack of frequent east-west bus services across Hobsons Bay, making it hard to access key destinations like Millers Junction and businesses along Kororoit Creek Road.
A 2021 Transport Planning Study conducted by DTP and Hobsons Bay Council found that many bus routes in the area are infrequent, unreliable, indirect, cover a limited catchment, have poor punctuality and have low productivity compared to other bus services in Metropolitan Melbourne.
It highlights the need to improve bus frequency, reliability, and coverage, especially in high projected population and employment growth areas.
With Victoria’s Bus Plan fast accumulating dust, my constituent asks, can the Minister give an update on how the department is responding to this study?
Written Answer
Received: 30 October 2025
Hon. Gabrielle Williams MP
(Minister for Transport Infrastructure, 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.
Since launching Victoria’s Bus Plan in June 2021, more than 120 local bus networks have been redesigned or strengthened, giving Victorian communities access to more than 9,300 more services each week.
In the 2025/26 State Budget, we are investing more than $162 million into new and improved bus services, with a focus on connecting communities in Melbourne’s growing suburbs to key local destinations including train stations, schools, health services, shops and employment, including the following uplifts in the west:
- a package of new and extended bus routes connecting passengers in growth areas to train stations, including Riverwalk, Kings Leigh, Mt Atkinson, Cobblebank, Thornhill Park, Rockbank, Aintree and Deanside;
- new and upgraded bus services in Tarneit to provide access to the new West Tarneit Station,
- bus service uplifts to improve access to the Wyndham Law Courts precinct,
- upgraded services to improve access to Caroline Springs town centre and Watergardens Station,
- new bus route for Cairnlea to Deer Park Station, and
- service uplifts this year to popular routes in Wyndham and Tarneit.
Already from 1 July 2025, Routes 170 Werribee Station – Tarneit Station via Werribee Plaza, 180 Werribee Station – Tarneit Station via Tarneit Road, 190 Werribee Station – Wyndham Vale Station via Ballan Road and 192 Werribee Station – Wyndham Vale Station via Black Forest Road received service uplifts. Services now run later most days of the week, with new timetables increasing services to every 20 minutes for most of the day.
Work to deliver the remaining new bus services is underway. More details will become available closer to implementation and will be communicated with the public.
Several new services are supported by Growth Area Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC) funding. Last year, the Allan Labor Government announced a package of $180 million of GAIC funding for ten new or improved bus services with these currently being delivered in Casey, Cardinia, Hume and Wyndham. In the west, new bus routes will be delivered linking Harpley Estate and Cornerstone Estate communities to Wyndham Vale Station, and Tarneit North residents to Tarneit and Laverton stations running through the employment area in Laverton North.
Consistent with Victoria’s Bus Plan, the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) reviews the bus network to identify where improvements can be made. When reviewing existing bus routes or planning new ones, DTP considers several factors. These include the likely number of users, suitability of the road network for bus operations, development of a direct and easily understood network, and connectivity with other public transport services. I have asked the Department to consider your constituents feedback as part of future network planning.
[ENDS]
