Walk highlights need for buses

Participants at the Mambourin Bus Marathon event. (Supplied)

Mambourin estate residents hit the streets last weekend to highlight the shortage of bus services in the area.

Residents were joined by the team from Little Growling Cafe, Friends of Earth, Point Cook Action Group, the sustainable cities team and WYNBUS, as well as Wyndham councillors Peter Maynard, Robert Szatkowski, Sahana Ramesh, Jasmine Hill and mayor Susan McIntyre.

One of the organisers, Senthill Sundaram, said the Bus Marathon event involved participants walking to the estate’s closest bus stop.

He said Mambourin residents have to walk 15 to 30 minutes to catch a bus.

“Public transport is almost not viable and not safe for most residents as they walk through streets without street lighting,” he said.

“They are forced to buy a second car or quit jobs or take a risky walk.”

Mr Sundaram said that during the walk, councillors heard about the challenges residents face trying to catch a bus including a lack of street lights and construction rubbish on paths.

Participants have called for the introduction on-demand buses in the area, such as those operating in Tarneit.