Bus operator’s contract renewed

BALLARAT’S public buses will continue to be run by CDC Victoria for the next decade.

The transport operator recently had their regional bus service contract renewed for 10 years, which took effect at the beginning of this month.

Ballarat’s bus network travels out as far as Brown Hill, Lucas, Buninyong, and Creswick, along with school services and ad-hoc routes for V/Line train commuters.

CDC Victoria CEO Jeff Wilson said reliability, efficiency, and improving the customer service experience will be an ongoing focus for the business.

“CDC Victoria is pleased to continue to provide long-term employment opportunities for our regional people,” he said.

“We are proud to have a huge diversity in our workforce, and this long-term contract will enable us to continue to contribute to better social outcomes for regional communities.”

As a subsidiary of ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia, Mr Wilson said CDC Victoria is also focused on reaching net-zero emissions within the next 28 years.

“[An] important facet of these contracts is transitioning to zero-emission vehicle technologies commencing in 2025,” he said.

“CDC is very experienced with the zero-emission buses internationally and the reduction of our environmental footprints is key to our sustainability.”

CDC Victoria has also renewed 10-year contracts in Geelong and Mildura.

More than 300 people work for CDC Victoria within regional areas of the state, and the business runs at least 240 vehicles outside metropolitan Melbourne.

CDC is also a bus operator in the eastern, northern, and western areas of Melbourne, and runs about 600 buses in total in Victoria.