Jaidyn Kennedy
The state government’s response to a petition regarding the inadequacy of bus services in Tarneit’s north is not good enough, according to a community spokesperson.
Community spokesperson Aijaz Moinuddin said that while Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams addressed some of the challenges the community is facing, the response “fails to offer clear timelines or specific commitments to address them.”
Mr Moinuddin said that northern Tarneit still needs a fully developed and regular bus network, buses that run every 10-15 minutes during peak hours and 20-30 minutes off peak.
Additionally, he said that Tarneit ideally needs four or five new bus routes that provide direct connections to transit hubs, community amenities and fill gaps that Metro and V/Line services do not cover.
The current FlexiRide service is also failing to accommodate the volume of commuters to the point where residents are losing employment, according to Mr Moinuddin.
“The government is falling to understand that FlexiRide is a supplementary service that works well for low-density or less populous areas, but it is not a substitute for a robust public transport system,” he said.
In her response, Ms Williams cited Victoria’s Bus Plan and The Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution Program (GAIC).
She said the state government would introduce the new Route 154 to combat a lack of connectivity in Tarneit, Truganina and Laverton North.
“GAIC will fund new Route 154, which is designed to provide a direct link between Tarneit Station and Laverton Station via the employment area in Truganina and Laverton North,” Ms Williams said.
“Route 154 will give locals access to jobs in the employment areas that are currently inaccessible by public transport. Residents who commute will have a choice of V/Line and Metro train services.”
Ms Williams also referred to the upgrading of the Tarneit Station bus interchange and car park that opened in 2023, as well as the new Tarneit West Station as actions being taken by the state government to improve connectivity in the area.
Mr Moinuddin said that Route 154 does not adequately cover northern Tarneit and that residents want the state government to directly address the current situation.
