Ms VAGHELA (Western Metropolitan) (12:43): My question is directed to the Minister for Public Transport, the Honourable Melissa Horne. The locals in my constituency of Western Metropolitan Region rely on buses as one of the main forms of public transport. Earlier this month the Andrews Labor government announced new services and extended bus routes for some of my constituents in Keilor East and Niddrie. The changes will see buses service the Valley Lake estate for the first time, providing more people with a bus within walking distance of their house, making it easier for locals to get to where they need to go. In addition to this there are changes to bus routes 501, 469 and 476 which will help to clear up the network and provide locals a better service. The changes will also introduce new school special buses, ensuring students can get to and from school. My question to the minister is: can the minister advise when these new services will come into effect and when local residents will be able to see their new timetables online?
RESPONSE:
Ms HORNE (Williamstown—Minister for Ports and Freight, Minister for Public Transport):
Thank you for your continued interest in better bus services for locals in the west and north-west of Melbourne. The Andrews Labor Government is improving bus services around Keilor East and Niddrie to give locals better public transport access.
The Keilor East bus network will include a bus service to Valley Lake estate for the first time, as well as reforming the wider bus network to provide better connections for locals.
The Niddrie/Valley Lake bus network change is currently scheduled to be implemented on 12 July 2020 with the online timetables and other customer information to be published on 12 June 2020.