Bus to link Shire towns to city

A PUBLIC bus service linking Smythesdale, Haddon, Smythes Creek, and Snake Valley to Delacombe Town Centre in Ballarat’s south-west will get moving soon.

From Monday, 21 November, Route C27, Smythesdale to Delacombe via Haddon, will replace the twice-weekly Ballarat to Snake Valley via Haddon service.

The C27 bus will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and the route between Smythesdale and Snake Valley will run on demand for passengers who pre-book.

Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle said the community has asked for this direct service to Delacombe.

“We’ve listened, making it easier for them to get where they want to go and giving them more choice about when they want to travel,” she said.

Minister for Transport Ben Carroll acknowledged that the route is critical for residents and workers in the Shire’s north.

“We are delivering better bus services for the community, no matter which town they live in or where they need to go,” he said.

Passengers leaving Smythesdale, Smythes Creek, or Haddon will be able to catch the service at their local bus stop.

Snake Valley outbound passengers will need to book before 5pm the night before travel on the 9.10am service, and can cancel their trip on the day, before 8.30am.

Passengers taking the afternoon service to Snake Valley can book by phone before getting on the bus at Delacombe Town Centre or alert the bus’ driver of their intention to board at any stop along the way.

A bus change to Route 25 at Delacombe Town Centre will take passengers into Ballarat. The cost of a C27 ticket will cover travel on the city network. Timetables will be available from 21 October at ptv.vic.gov.au.

State Opposition Leader Matthew Guy visited Smythesdale’s The Well in June as part of his State election campaigning to pledge an expansion of the Ballarat bus network to Haddon and Smythesdale, if the Liberals form government next month.