By CASEY NEILL
BUS routes proposed for Keysborough South have serious flaws, say campaigners.
About 40 residents attended a Public Transport Victoria (PTV) information session on the proposals at Keysborough College on Wednesday 18 November.
Councillor Matthew Kirwan said the routes included a section of Keylana Drive in the Hidden Grove estate that already had traffic problems at peak periods.
He said the routes did not go past the proposed sites for key infrastructure – such as shopping centres and community hubs – and left out residential areas south of Keylana Drive and Westwood Boulevard.
Cr Kirwan said a 20-minute loop service including Noble Park Railway Station, Parkmore, Perry Road, Hutton Road, Chapel Road and Cheltenham Road, would better service the area.
“Particularly at peak times when people are trying to get from Keysborough South to the Dandenong Railway Line,” he said.
“While it is great that the bus routes were proposed, there are serious flaws in both of them.”
Keysborough South Action Group spokeswoman Nina Kelly said more than 600 existing homes off Perry Road and five places of worship on Hutton Road were excluded from the routes.
“And there is no future infrastructure growth factored into the route,” she said.
“The route will not be rolled out until the second half of 2016.
“By that time the proposed Woolworths on Hutton Road will be near completion and there will be no bus within 850 metres.”
Ms Kelly said buses would run every 40 minutes during the day and every 60 minutes after 7pm.
“Research provided to us shows a direct route with higher frequency – every 20 minutes – has greater patronage,” she said.
“We believe people will still use their car to get to railway stations with this inadequate frequency.”
She said the service would not link with the three major bus connections at Parkmore or the Smart Bus on Springvale Road.
“Safety is another factor. The proposal has the last bus around 9pm however this will not link to the last buses servicing Parkmore between 9.30pm and 10pm,” she said.
Ms Kelly said the Keysborough community had been fighting for the bus extension for eight years.
“We want it right the first time and to not have to continue petitioning the State Government for improvements down the track,” she said.
PTV has announced a drop-in session at Parkmore on Thursday 26 November from 3pm to 5pm.
The online survey closes Monday 30 November.
Visit getinvolved.ptv.vic.gov.au/Keysborough-south/news_feed/the-proposal2 to view the routes.
