Thursday, 24 September 2026

 Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:43): (2656) My question is for the Minister for Public Transport. I was recently contacted by some constituents in Castlemaine about the lack of safe, reliable and accessible public transport options for students commuting to and from Castlemaine Secondary College. The local bus stop is about a kilometre from the school and runs to town – but at 2:40 pm despite school finishing at 3:15. Currently, existing bus routes do not adequately service all key residential pockets of the town during peak school travel hours, leaving many students without a viable public transport option and forcing families to rely heavily on private car transport. Students in Castlemaine deserve a service which fits the school timetable and allows students to get to and from town, the train station, work, home and extracurricular activities. Will the minister commit to introducing a new, dedicated bus route in Castlemaine that specifically aligns with the school’s operating hours?