Trains or buses or both?

WHILE Golden Plains Shire is currently developing a Transport Connections Study, based in part off findings from a community bus trial, questions have been raised about what public transport in the municipality could look like in the future.

With a State election set for November what could the Shire’s public transport connections be within the next term and beyond?

When it comes to linking Geelong and Bannockburn, Member for Polwarth Richard Riordan said there is a “giant need for a complete review.”

“This public transport system has not been changed for more than 30 years, and in Bannockburn, there’s two or three bus services a day maximum, in and out,” he said.

“The public transport offering for greater Geelong is completely inadequate, especially considering the growing community of Bannockburn and its proximity. The whole thing needs to be rethought.”

Mr Riordan said there is potential to reinstate rail connection to Bannockburn through a Geelong metro-style service, a plan his Liberal National party Coalition took to the 2018 State election.

“These are discussions we need to have with the community, and we need to have a future plan for the region,” he said.

“Developing the infrastructure to make it easier for families and workers who’ve made the lifestyle choice to live in Golden Plains is absolutely essential.

“When you have a more regular service, you could collect at Teesdale, Shelford, and other communities that could connect to a rail service.”

In the north of the Shire, Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle said she identified issues with transport just days into her role as the region’s representative.

On the north side of Ballarat, towns like Creswick are serviced by regular bus services as well as the Maryborough train, but what about communities on the city’s southern and western fringe.

“I could see that there was a need to link the growing areas of Smythesdale and Haddon with the services and jobs they rely on in Ballarat,” Ms Settle said.

“That’s why I’ve been working with the Golden Plains Shire council on looking for solutions. I was really pleased to help the council fund a transport connections study that will look at transport needs, identify gaps, and find solutions.

“The Golden Plains Community Bus Trial between Smythesdale and Wendouree was supported with a Victorian Government grant, and the data gained from this trial will feed into the transport study and hopefully recommend an upgraded permanent service into the heart of Ballarat.”

With electoral boundaries having been redrawn and places like Bannockburn and Smythesdale set for new representatives, current members of State parliament who could represent were approached for comment.

As Bannockburn is set to become a part of the Geelong electorate, current member Christine Couzens was asked about her plan for public transport improvements in the region.

However, a spokesperson for Ms Couzens said as the area is not yet included in the electoral boundary, she was not able to give comment.

Member for Ripon Louise Staley said regional public transport is “vital.”

“I congratulate Golden Plains Shire on their Community Bus Trial, which I know has been well patronised,” she said.

“For communities like Linton, Scarsdale and Smythesdale, the Community Bus is the only form of public transport available.

“With the population growth, it’s time an extension of the Delacombe public transport bus to these communities was investigated.”