Views sought for better buses to Armstrong Creek, Torquay

THE state government wants feedback from residents in Armstrong Creek, Belmont and the Surf Coast as part of its plan to upgrade the bus network to meet rising growth in the communities.

The most recent State Budget provided funding for service uplifts for bus routes in Torquay and Armstrong Creek, and the Department of Transport wants to upgrade the network to connect the growth areas to key destinations including to rail services and to Geelong.

These upgrades will extend bus services into newly developed parts of Torquay and Armstrong Creek as well as increase links to local shopping precincts and schools.

Presently, two bus routes service Torquay: Route 51 (Geelong – Jan Juc via Torquay); and Route 50 (Geelong Station – Jan Juc via Marshall Station and Fischer Street). Both travel through Armstrong Creek.

Armstrong Creek got its first dedicated bus service in late 2019, Route 45 (Armstrong Creek – Waurn Ponds SC via Waurn Ponds Station), which provides a connection between the Warralilly Village and Waurn Ponds shopping centres and the Waurn Ponds railway station

Last year, school bus services to Oberon High School (which relocated to Armstrong Creek) were significantly upgraded to manage student loads, but school services are not in scope for this consultation.

Throughout October, the community consultation will ask locals to provide feedback on buses throughout the Armstrong Creek, Torquay and Belmont areas.This engagement will give a better understanding of how people presently use their bus services and what would encourage them to use buses more, including where, when and how they would like to travel.

The information will help inform future planning for bus reform in the area and how to improve local services.

“We want to hear how we can improve public transport connectivity and accessibility for our growing suburbs,” South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman said.

The Department of Transport will host community pop-up stalls outside Coles, 41 Bristol Road, Torquay, on October 11 from noon-2pm and 4-6pm; and at The Village Warralily Shopping Centre, Central Boulevard, Armstrong Creek, on October 13 from noon-2pm and 4.6pm.

The consultation is part of Victoria’s Bus Plan, which aims to deliver improvements to the state’s bus network to better meet demand, increase accessibility and performance, and deliver value for money.

“The community will play a vital role in helping to shape their future bus services in Surf Coast and Armstrong Creek by giving us a better understanding how they use the network and what we need to do to futureproof buses in the area,” Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll said.

Feedback on the bus network can also be provided via the Engage Victoria website until October 23 at engage.vic.gov.au/ArmstrongCreekandTorquay