School buses for western suburbs

THREE new school buses are set to serve students living in Lucas and Cardigan Village from this term.

Two more direct buses to and from Lucas and Ballarat High School will run, and young people living in Cardigan Village will be able to travel to and from Lucas Primary School, Siena Catholic Primary School, or Ballarat High School on a new service.

“We’re supporting families in the growing communities of Lucas and Cardigan Village by ensuring students have better access public transport access to primary and secondary schools in the area through these three new school bus services,” Member for Ripon Martha Haylett said.

The new Cardigan Village service departs at 8.15am, heading to Lucas and Siena primary schools before Ballarat High School.

Services will depart Ballarat High School at 3.27pm after school, heading to the Lucas primary schools for pick-up at 3.47pm.

The Lucas school services are staggered, with the first morning bus departing at 7.55am from O’Shannassy Parade, and an 8.25am service departing from Shortridge Drive.

Afternoon services to Lucas will depart Ballarat High School at 3.25pm, and 4.07pm.

The additional services are part of an overall State Government push to increase the number of school bus services.

“We’re giving Victorian parents and students what they want with better school bus services in the regional and metropolitan growth areas like Lucas and Cardigan where they are needed most,” said public transport minister Ben Carroll.

“Through Victoria’s Bus Plan we’re delivering a modern, productive, environmentally sustainable bus network that increases the number of people choosing to take the bus.”