Bus review hailed

FOOTHILLS residents will soon get the chance to have their say on the future of bus services in the outer-east.
Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky announced the long-awaited review of bus services during the outer-east Community Cabinet visit last Tuesday (22 July).
The comprehensive review of local bus services in the City of Knox and Shire of Yarra Ranges has been welcomed by local councillors.
Yarra Ranges mayor Tim Heenan said it was about time that the review was brought forward.
“We have been waiting a long time for this,” he said. “It has come sooner than we expected which is great news.”
Cr Heenan said the shire believed the bus review was at least another 12 months away. “We are happy the review has come through now especially as buses and trains are the only form of transport in the shire,” he said.
Eastern Transport Coalition chairman and City of Knox councillor Mick Van de Vreede said the bus review was positive news and has urged all councils to put forward a submission.
However, Cr Van de Vreede said that as well as looking at short-term projects such as the buses, the Government needed to look at the bigger picture – line duplication of the Belgrave and Lilydale lines to allow more frequent trains.
“If we don’t substantially improve the public transport options in the outer east we will give local families no option but to own, and maintain, two, three or four cars for the next 25 years,” he said.
Ms Kosky said the review would assess the effectiveness of bus services.
The review is part of a comprehensive three-year program being undertaken by the State Government to improve bus services in Melbourne’s growing suburbs.
Local bus operators, councils and residents in the community will all be consulted as part of the review.
The Department of Transport will conduct public workshops to discuss local bus services and will also accept written submissions from individuals and groups later this year.