By Jaidyn Kennedy
Fed-up Wyndham residents are demanding the state government takes action to address the lack of reliable bus services in the area.
Residents gathered at Tarneit station last week to protest the suburb’s “inadequate public transport options“. They said local MPs have failed to take action to improve local public transport despite several petitions on the issue.
Protest organiser and Tarneit resident Rifai Raheem said the west needed better buses to help reduce congestion.
“We urge the government to action bus reform which was promised and to increase funding, and ensure frequent, reliable, and accessible public transport for the western suburbs,“ he said.
Residents said long wait times, safety concerns, slow journeys and poor connectivity with other public transport services were among their chief concerns.
“I’m forced to drive to the station and park in the surrounding streets due to the lack of regular buses when coming home, and later once buses stop, I have safety concerns as an older woman” Hoppers Crossing resident Delwyn Ogden said.
Forced car dependency as a result of inadequate public transport options was flagged as a factor putting a financial and logistical strain on families.
Tarneit resident Saajidh Zizam said buses “rarely“ ran through his neighbourhood.
“This inconsistency makes public transport less viable as an option, and this has made me dependent on my wife for drop-offs and pick-ups from the station,” he said.
“This arrangement has become increasingly burdensome for her, as she works full-time and also manages to pick up our children from childcare.”
Better Buses campaign co-ordinator Elyse Cunningham said the protest was the second in a series of co-ordinated actions that will be happening across the western suburbs in the lead up to the next state budget.
Tarneit MP Dylan Wight said a new service would connect residents in the Harpley and Cornerstone estates to Wyndham Vale station. In Tarneit, a new service will be introduced to link Tarneit station and Laverton North.
He said the Department of Transport and Planning was in the process of planning bus routes in and around the new Tarneit West train station.
Laverton MP Sarah Connolly said residents had a chance to attend a community bus forum with the public transport minister in June to discuss the transport needs of Truganina and Williams Landing.
Public Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams and Treasurer and Werribee MP Tim Pallas were contacted for comment.
