Thursday, 9 February 2023

Melton electorate bus services

Steve McGHIE (Melton) (17:13): (32) My adjournment matter is directed to the Minister for Public Transport, and the action that I seek is an update on the new bus services from Eynesbury in the Melton electorate. Melton was excited with the news during the election campaign that we are delivering a new bus service for passengers in Eynesbury, connecting them with Melton by public transport. This is of course in addition to the already delivered FlexiRide bus service for Melton South connecting passengers to key destination hubs like Cobblebank station, Melton station, Woodgrove shopping centre, Melton bus exchange and schools in Melton South and Thornhill Park. We have delivered extra services and cleaner and smarter buses and improved accessibility for bus passengers, giving them more options to travel to the shops and essential connections to health care and education.

A new service for Eynesbury makes it easier for locals to use public transport, helping them to get where they need to go – helping students to get to school, helping hardworking Victorians to get to work. It creates jobs for locals, improves environmental outcomes and has direct cost-of-living benefits. This investment builds on the Labor government’s announcement that Melton will be level crossing free by 2028, with the investing of up to $650 million in the Melton line upgrade, increasing passenger transport capacity for the community and working to make our bus network more environmentally friendly as well as cutting carbon emissions. Leaving the car at home will be a greener choice because by 2025 every new bus added to our fleet will be a zero-emission vehicle.