Volgren director Scott Grenda, Major Projects Minister John Lenders and Grenda executive chairman Geoff Grenda with the company’s new SmartBus shortly after announcing the company was moving from Foster Street to a new 2.7-hectare site in Brighton Road, Dandenong.By Shaun Inguanzo
DANDENONG bus company Grenda Corporation will shift its main operations to a $14 million 2.7-hectare site near Cheltenham Road to improve staff conditions and transport safety and allow for future growth.
The company will move from its 54-year-old 1.7-hectare fragmented site along Foster Street to the new site near Brighton Road, which lies near the planned Cheltenham Road realignment, south of the Dandenong train line.
Executive chairman Geoff Grenda last week said the new site would be completed by the end of 2007 and would house buses and staff, and incorporate a larger parking facility to prevent staff parking on Dandenong’s streets.
Mr Grenda said the site would be ‘green’ with up to 70 trees, recycled grey water and a 4.5-star energy efficiency rating.
“Buses have this image of being polluters but now they are far more efficient,” he said. “We will make the building look green to reflect this.”
Staff will be armed with security passes needed to access the site and any part of the building.
“Given what has happened in London with terrorism and public transport we want to keep our site secure and have passes so you can’t get in unless you are authorised to,” Mr Grenda said.
The company has 300 employees who will move to the new site, while its Volgren bus construction site in Dandenong South and its 200 employees will not move. The new depot will play a pivotal role in enhancing Grenda’s bus services, Mr Grenda said.
In the short term, the company plans to extend its operating hours for bus routes 811, 812, 813, 827 and 848 to at least 6am to 9pm on weekdays, 8am to 9pm on Saturdays, and new services from 9am to 9pm on Sundays and public holidays.
Mr Grenda said the extended services would begin as early as next month.
Grenda is also planning an orbital SmartBus network with VicUrban and the State Government that will interconnect the ‘spider-legged’ rail services in Melbourne’s east.
The company has also launched its new SmartBus with global positioning system (GPS) tracking that will provide feedback to SmartBus shelters allowing commuters to see real-time information on the bus’ whereabouts.
The first SmartBus route from Stud Park to Monash University Clayton will begin mid-October, Mr Grenda said.
