By CASEY NEILL
Nina Kelly is looking forward to hopping on the first bus on the new Keysborough South route on Sunday 28 August.
“The long 2.5 kilometre walk is over,” the Keysborough South Action Group spokeswoman said.
“This bus means the community is no longer isolated and it opens up access to essential infrastructure, plus further opportunity to education and employment opportunities.”
Keysborough MP Martin Pakula announced the start date and a 30-minute frequency for the service on Monday 20 June.
The original proposal was for a 40 minute service, but Mr Pakula saud community feedback prompted the change.
Ms Kelly was pleasantly surprised.
“The increased frequency down to every 30 minutes means that community can become less car-dependent and connect to both Dandenong and Frankston lines,” she said.
“Most importantly the bus route has a chance to be viable from day one.”
The new Route 709 will run from Noble Park Station to Mordialloc Station via Keylana Drive, Westwood Boulevard and Perry Road in Keysborough South, and Bloomfield Road in Noble Park.
It will connect local passengers to the Frankston and Dandenong train lines, and the Route 902 Smart Bus on Springvale Road, as well as providing residents south of Cheltenham Road with a direct connection to Parkmore Shopping Centre.
On weekdays the bus will run every 30 minutes between 6am and 7pm and every hour from 7pm to around 9pm.
On Saturdays, services will run every half-hour from 7am to 7pm and every hour until 9pm.
Sunday services will start at 8.30am and run every 30 minutes until 7pm, then every hour until 9pm.
Greater Dandenong councillor Matthew Kirwan was also pleased at the increased frequency but said it wasn’t enough.
“When frequency comes up, the common reaction is that unless it is at least 30 minutes that they won’t consider – and I stress consider – using it and instead will rely on their car or stay at home,” he said.
“I am still concerned at the coverage and frequency.
“Starting with a frequency of at least every 20 minutes would have been a better approach and also extending it on weeknights until 8pm.
“The more frequent the service, the more the parking issues at Noble Park Railway Station and Mordialloc station are lessened.
“Many of the residents in the new estates have professional jobs in the CBD meaning that they work long hours and don’t leave the city until late.”
Cr Kirwan said the sooner there was another route that included the new shopping centre at Hutton and Chapel roads – “and also uses the already built bus stops at the south end of Perry Road” – the better.
“Linkage to Dandenong South is also important – many residents in this area have office jobs in Dandenong South,” he said.
