Tuesday, 28 July 2026

 Wendy LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (18:45): (2619) My adjournment tonight is for the Minister for Public and Active Transport, and I raise it on behalf of our wonderful candidate in Yan Yean Amanda Dow. The action that I seek from the minister is for the minister to improve transport connectivity for residents living in the Yan Yean electorate by expanding the local bus network and increasing the reach and frequency of bus services. I was proud to stand with Liberal leader Jess Wilson, shadow minister Evan Mulholland and our wonderful Liberal candidates Amanda Dow and Steve Brooks to announce that a Wilson Liberal government will deliver the full duplication of Donnybrook Road from the Hume Freeway to Epping Road and slash traffic congestion for local commuters and commercial vehicles along Donnybrook Road. But not everyone can or wants to drive. Many residents of Donnybrook, Woodstock and Kalkallo say they want better public transport options. Unfortunately for them, the Allan Labor government has failed to significantly improve public transport in the area to meet the growing demand in the community. The outer northern growth suburbs are bursting at the seams, with a large population that is only growing bigger. The Liberal candidate for Yan Yean Amanda Dow recently met with residents of Donnybrook, who raised the issue with her, and numerous constituents have also contacted me about the lack of bus services in the electorate of Yan Yean. Alfred from the Kinbrook estate said that the estate has grown immensely, and while other estates that opened after his now have scheduled buses, Kinbrook is still waiting. He often sees people walking to Donnybrook station in the bitter cold, pushing through wind and rain just to get to the station.

These residents deserve better. They deserve a safe and comfortable bus service that will connect them to the train. A Donnybrook community group surveyed hundreds of neighbours and asking them what they want in terms of better public transport links. The survey showed that there is high demand for a bus route connecting Donnybrook to Epping via the schools in Wollert, as well as a dedicated shuttle service between Donnybrook V/Line station and Mernda Metro station.

We also cannot forget Whittlesea township, which is sometimes passed over in discussions about the northern growth suburbs. There is in fact quite a lot of new housing being built in Whittlesea, particularly the new estate along Ridge Road. One constituent from Whittlesea wrote to me to say that there are no buses going through the estate, which makes it hard for kids who need to catch public transport to school. Over the past 12 years the state Labor government has taken these communities for granted and failed to deliver basic public transport improvements, while spending billions of taxpayers dollars on underground tunnels that nobody asked for in order to funnel money to their corrupt union mates and criminal bikie gangs. Victorians are disgusted and deserve better.