Wednesday, 25 May 2022

Yarra Valley and Murrindindi bus routes

Ms McLEISH (Eildon) (19:17): (6384) My matter is for the Minister for Public Transport, and the action I seek is for the minister to abandon his plans to alter the bus routes in the Yarra Valley which extend into the Murrindindi shire. The proposed changes will see four routes become two and the routes changed. Essentially they are altering and cutting short routes 684, 685, 686 and 687. These changes are deeply unpopular in the communities they serve. Passengers like their bus travel. They appreciate the assistance of the bus drivers very much. They like the comfort and they like the safety.

Route 684 has 22 stops between Eildon and Southern Cross station, and it services many small communities like Narbethong, Marysville, Buxton, Taggerty, Acheron, Alexandra, Thornton and Eildon. It is now going to start and finish at Chirnside Park. That means it will not be stopping off at Eastland or, so importantly, the medical precinct in East Melbourne at St Vincent’s Hospital before heading to Southern Cross station.

Now, there are elderly, those with a disability, those with mental health concerns and workers who catch this line for safety, practicality, familiarity, comfort and, as I have said, the assistance the drivers provide. Cancelling this direct service will severely impact these communities. Passengers in and around Healesville feel similarly. Route 687 from Healesville to Chum Creek will cease. Routes 686, Healesville to Badger Creek, and 685, Healesville to Lilydale, will be combined.

I have got some quotes from a couple of people who are very concerned about these:

I feel safe, I feel secure, it’s less hazardous lugging cases onto the station, standing there in the cold not feeling all that safe. Then getting to the city on a train and then having to get on a tram to go to a specialist or doctor. It’s all just a little bit too much to have to deal with.

Somebody else from further north:

Those of us who live in the regions are treated as unworthy of receiving the same level of services as those in Metropolitan Melbourne despite paying taxes and the same fares for service which …

seem to be ‘a government charter’.

Now, passengers have had no comfort in the words that they have received from government ministers, just saying that they are making the bus network better to meet the travel demands of the communities and that they are streamlining the network and expanding customer travel choices to improve productivity and patronage. The locals in my area certainly do not see it like that. They see that services that they have relied on very much and really enjoyed—and they are happy to travel on those coaches—are going to be taken from under them. I ask the minister to absolutely have a good look at this and not disenfranchise all of those bus passengers. Ditch the plans you have to abandon these routes.