A committee representing five western suburbs councils has welcomed the investment in new bus services for the area.
The state government last week announced suburbs in Melbourne’s west, north and south east would receive $150 million for new and improved bus services from its Growth Area Infrastructure Contribution fund.
LeadWest, a committee representing Wyndham, Melton, Brimbank, Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong councils, hailed the $39 million allocated to Melbourne’s west as a great outcome and the result of months of campaigning and lobbying for better bus services.
The funding will go towards new and modified bus routes between Tarneit and Laverton North and a new bus connecting Harpley and Cornerstone estates with Wyndham Vale Station, all within the Wyndham local government area.
Acting Chair of LeadWest and Wyndham councillor, Peter Maynard, said the new bus services were especially necessary within his municipality.
Wyndham residents are keen users of the bus network – Wyndham is home to nine of the top 20 most used bus services across the whole of metropolitan network and we have seen bus patronage continue to go up,” said Cr Maynard who added that there was still a lot more investment needed to provide adequate bus services in Melbourne’s outer-west.
“Rapid growth in Melbourne’s west has left communities without adequate bus services as bus route and service provision has not increased in-line with population and job growth. Some new suburbs in Wyndham and Melton have no bus services. This will get much worse as more people make these suburbs home,” he said.
“An integrated and safe bus network provides a viable and cost effective option to private vehicles and will reduce traffic congestion.”
