Elsie Lange
Hume council will write to the state government requesting better bus routes from the municipality to universities.
At a meeting on Monday, September 26, Hume deputy mayor Sam Misho asked that council write to the Public Transport and Higher Education minister requesting new bus routes from Craigieburn, Coolaroo and Upfield to La Trobe and Victoria universities.
“The letter should recognise the difficulties Hume residents have in accessing universities due to the distances and poor public transport access to existing universities,” Cr Misho said.
“[It should also] seek information on what the state government is doing to improve bus services to existing universities.
“[As well as] seek information from the state government of future provision of university courses and campuses in suitable proximity to Hume residents.”
Cr Misho said when he attended Deakin University in Burwood two decades ago, he would have to travel from Meadow Heights, spending two and a half hours on public transport one way.
He said he would like to see a university open in the municipality, but until then, facilitating students to get to university in other suburbs easier would be a good first step.
“After all this time, there are people in my shoes who still do the same thing,” Cr Misho said.
“If anything, that’s extremely embarrassing.
“We talk about certain suburbs in Hume being some of the most disadvantaged suburbs in Victoria – if we are to change any of that we need to focus.”
Councillor Naim Kurt said it had been a significant issue to the community for a number of years and said it was vital council advocate for a higher education facility.
“I don’t want to have to be here in another 25 years, listening to a future councillor talking about their experiences today and the fact that nothing’s changed at all,” Cr Kurt said.
