Tuesday, 12 August 2025

South-Eastern Metropolitan region bus services

Michael GALEA (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (18:05): (1816) I love a bus, and what is better than a bus – multiple new buses. That is why I am so excited tonight to put my adjournment to the Minister for Public and Active Transport, and the action that I seek is an update on the expansion of bus services in the Casey–Cardinia region which was just announced recently, which will be coming into effect from the 24 August, in just a couple of weeks time. As our outer suburbs continue to grow and expand, we are continuing to invest, and that includes in public transport with –

Nick McGowan interjected.

Michael GALEA: Mr McGowan, I want to be on a bus with you, and I want you to join me on route 831 as it leaves Berwick station, all the way down the new Bells Road to Clyde, stopping on the way past Kambrya, a great school, passing Wulerrp, a great new local school that we opened this year, all the way through Clyde North and to Clyde. And, Mr McGowan, when we get back up to Berwick, do you know what we can do then – we can jump on the newly extended route 928 bus from Berwick all the way through to Pakenham, stopping at the Casey Hospital, which we are currently expanding. We can go past – we actually drive over – the new bridge at Beaconsfield that we have recently built as part of the Beaconsfield level crossing removal project, the new McKenna Drive bridge. This new 928 bus will use it. We will then go and connect all these new residents who have moved into the south side of Beaconsfield and Officer over the past few years, who will have a new, highly reliable bus.

Mr McGowan, we will have a great day out together. Pack the sandwiches. We will get some coffees on the way at some of Berwick’s fantastic local cafes. Do not worry about the sandwiches. We will find some there, because there are lots of great businesses that will be pleased to cater to us. And when we get there, we will be able to see the usage that has been driven, because with these new services we are providing not only an uplift in the expansion and the coverage but also an uplift in the frequency, with route 831 running every 20 minutes from early in the morning to late at night on weekdays. This is a significant improvement to that local service. Indeed it will be connecting north to south in parallel to Clyde Road, unlocking a whole new north–south bus corridor through the south side of Berwick and through Clyde North and connecting with all of the east–west routes, including, Mr McGowan, route 798, which was extended just earlier this year and also has a 20-minute frequency heading in towards Cranbourne, providing that grid network across for the people of Clyde North.

Whether it is public transport or any of the other investments we are making, this is a very significant development, one that locals have spoken to me about extensively when I have been speaking to them in Clyde North. I am thrilled that the minister has delivered these new expanded bus services, and I ask for an update on how they will benefit my constituents as well as Mr McGowan.