Campaign to restart cross peninsula bus service ignites

A CAMPAIGN to reinstate a cross-peninsula bus service between Ocean Grove and the north Bellarine is back in the headlights.

The Northern Bellarine Transport Action Group (NBTAG) has been pushing for the return of this bus service for quite some time, but a recent social media post by Curlewis mum Stephanni Richards has renewed interest among the community.

Ms Richards recently contacted McHarrys Buslines in the hope of getting a service between Drysdale, Clifton Springs and Curlewis, and Ocean Grove, and in particular after school hours, weekends and school holidays.

Presently, public transport users must catch a bus from Ocean Grove to Leopold, before getting off and then on a new bus heading to the north Bellarine, and visa versa.

“My kids, like most kids on the Bellarine, once they get to high school begin mixing with all the kids out this way, and suddenly their friendship circle changes from the kids at their primary school in their own town, to kids from all over the peninsula,” Ms Richards said. “I spent most of school holidays and weekends driving kids back and forth.”

There used to be a cross-peninsula bus service between the towns, but PTV removed this a few years ago.

NBTAG co-chair Jenny Wills said due to the removal of the service, licenced P-Plater drivers were being paid to take their friends to sporting and social events by providing a youth “uber” type service.

“This isposing significant safety risks for the young people on the Bellarine,” Ms Wills said.

“One of the purposes of public transport is to service citizens of the community who are less able to travel privately.

“As you will see it is an issue particularly for young people in terms of loss of recreation and employment opportunities for them and the burden placed on parents as standby/on call drivers.”

Ms Wills said NBTAG would like to see PTV work with the community on the reinstatement of the service to ensure it was well publicised, patronage encouraged and usage reviewed.

“The old practice of simply withdrawing services if underutilised is very short sighted, particularly with growing populations on the Bellarine and the need to reduce traffic and pollution in coastal communities,” she said.

Ms Richards said McHarrys told her she needed to contact PTV, who would have the final say.

“I will forward your request to Public Transport Victoria whom we are under contract with and are responsible for adding to and amending the bus services,” McHarrys said.

“Please encourage other parents to contact PTV directly, as the more people raising these issues will improve your chances for them to implement changes.”

To have your say, visit ptv.vic.gov.au.