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Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Members Statement
The government has finally said it is going to release the long awaited and very overdue Manningham bus review. In the meantime commuters continue to endure overcrowded buses, poor weekend and off-peak services and gaps in routes. Doncaster residents want a far superior public transport service to what this government delivers. We want a public transport service that can accommodate the people who want to use it. We want a service which runs in the evening and over the weekend, and we want public transport that allows us to go easily on public transport to the places we want to go to.
One prime example of the government's lack of regard for commuters is the removal of the 289 bus service. Students who used the 289 bus to commute to schools in Box Hill have tripled their travelling time without it.
I call on the government to replace that service to enable students to get to school easily and on time. Residents also need improved services and connections to easily travel to our neighbouring suburbs to access community services, including the Box Hill Hospital and education institutions such as Deakin and Monash universities. Other improvements we need are for the Manningham Mover bus service to operate during the hours equivalent to the main road services for which it is a feeder. The route should also include local amenities such as Aquarena.
Finally, the government has put out a glossy flyer and the minister has confirmed that the Doncaster area rapid transit (DART) system will not start until early 2011. This improved bus service must start as soon as possible. Residents should not have to wait another year. Doncaster residents need to have new buses providing improved services on our roads and I call on the government to bring forward the commencement of the DART system.
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