RESIDENTS are joining forces to fight a shake-up of bus services they say is isolating members of the community.
Bring Back the Buses Action Group has been formed in response to the restructuring of bus routes servicing Mill Park, South Morang, Bundoora and Epping last month, which included scrapping routes 571 and 563.
The group, which planned to hold a rally at Mill Park Drive last Saturday, said the changes were threatening to leave some elderly residents housebound and a number of local services inaccessible to the community.
Some parents were also concerned their children were being forced to take long journeys to and from school as a result of the service re-structure.
Group spokeswoman Helen Said said she wanted the original services re-instated.
“Parents are ringing me and telling me their children have to leave home at quarter to seven in the morning to get to school because there are no more buses from South Morang to Greensborough.” She said many elderly residents were not able to enjoy the free art shows at Bundoora Historic Homestead because it was no longer accessible by bus.
Mill Park Community House director Lynne Harris said it was vital a bus route at Mill Park Drive was reinstated to give people access to community services there.
Whittlesea council advocacy and communications general manager Griff Davis said
156 houses were no longer on the bus line following the changes and the council had written to the Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder and Public Transport Victoria asking for an explanation.
A petition signed by hundreds of residents opposing the bus cuts had been presented to Parliament by Mill Park MLA Lily D’Ambrosio.
PTV spokeswoman Donna Watson said where routes had been removed or changed alternative services continued in nearby locations and the majority of commuters would receive an improved service. She said Whittlesea council had been consulted about the changes.
