WHEELS OF CHANGE: State plots new regional bus network

ARMSTRONG Creek and Torquay’s bus network is under the microscope this month as the state government aims to improve public transport services in growth areas.

The Armstrong Creek and Torquay Bus Network Reform is open for its final round of public consultation before the government announces changes later this year that are due to take effect in 2024.

An improved regional bus network was a state budget commitment from last year to deliver a more direct, frequent and easily accessible service.

Public Transport Users Association Geelong convenor Paul Westcott said improvements were much needed especially at the Armstrong Creek growth area, which has suffered from a lag in services that match its population.

“Armstrong Creek was supposed to be a sustainable development right from the start.

“And of course, sustainability has to include a good public transport provision. That hasn’t happened.”

He said the lack of efficient public transport options made residents in the growth areas highly car-dependent, which added to their cost of living expenses, caused traffic congestion, was an unsustainable environmental outcome and created additional challenges for elderly or disabled people who became reliant on more expensive transport options.

The reform’s early consultation found that 90 per cent of respondents were more likely to catch a bus if it was more frequent, fast and reliable.

Residents who don’t use buses indicated that services don’t take them where they need to go or were too infrequent.

The government said it incorporated this feedback into its proposed changes to network, which are:

• Route 45 extending past Warralily Shopping Centre to better service nearby schools Oberon High and Armstrong Creek schools
• Route 52 introduced from Bell Street, Torquay to Geelong station
• Route 53 extending to west Torquay, looping through Kithbrooke Retirement and Ocean Mist Aged Care on Grossmans Road, to Marshall Station via Torquay town centre and the Dunes
• Route 54 would follow exiting path from Jan Juc to Torquay town centre then connect to Torquay North growth areas and Marshall station. and
• Routes 50 and 51, from Torquay to Marshall station, would be retired.

Mr Westcott said the new routes were an improvement on the existing provision, but said their effectiveness would be determined by service frequency.

“It’s a step in the right direction. But there’s still a lot of Armstrong Creek now that doesn’t have good public transport access, particularly west of the Torquay road,” he said.

For full details of the planned reforms and to make a submission, head to https://engage.vic.gov.au/ArmstrongCreekandTorquay

The present consultation round closes next Sunday (April 2).