Welcome back folks to this month’s Connolly’s Corner.

We talk a lot about the Big Build, as our Government continues to deliver significant
investments into our road and rail infrastructure which gets Victorians moving right around
the State. It’s important work, especially for communities like ours in the west experiencing
population growth and development. Today, I want to talk about one aspect of our transport
network that’s just as important – our bus network.

If you’ve followed me over the last five years, you’ll know that I’m a big advocate for
improving our bus network right across our western suburbs. When I represented the seat of
Tarneit last term, my team and I worked hard to identify and engage with areas in the
Electorate that didn’t have access to a nearby bus route. This advocacy paid off in 2020,
when our Government announced not one, but two new bus routes for Wyndham – Route
152, which travels from Williams Landing Station to Tarneit Station via Allura Estate in
Truganina, and Route 182, which travels from Werribee Station to Tarneit Station via Tarneit
West. These routes have been instrumental in plugging serious gaps in Wyndham’s bus
network.

On top of new routes, our community’s advocacy also saw improvements to existing bus
services in our community. In 2019, we were able to deliver a suite of service improvements
to Wyndham’s bus network, including seven additional AM and PM peak services on Route
167. This is one of the longest routes in Wyndham, travelling from Hoppers Crossing Station
to Tarneit Station. And of course, in 2022, we began operating a Flexi Ride service in Tarneit
and Truganina’s north, providing smaller on-demand services for estates that are still under
development, which has proven to be tremendously popular with commuters.
This year we had a very exciting announcement at Bemin Secondary College, our first ever
high school in Truganina, that six brand new school bus services will pick up students across
the school’s enrolment zone. And if your kids also go to a school that’s close to an existing
bus stop, such as Truganina P-9 College or Dohertys Creek P-9 College, they can catch these
buses as well.

We know there’s always room for improvement. That’s why I’m expanding my bus campaign
for improved bus services right across the Laverton Electorate, whether it be new bus routes
in Truganina, or improved service frequencies closer to the inner west in suburbs like
Sunshine and Braybrook. If like me, you’re passionate about seeing more buses more often,
then I want to hear from you!

In coming months I’ll be hosting public & active transport forums, where residents in the
west can share their experiences personally with the Minister for Public and Active
Transport, Gabrielle Williams. It’s a great opportunity for folks to sit down with the Minister
and discuss all things buses, including coverage and frequency. These forums will be
advertised shortly across my social media. Remember, if you can’t attend in person, you can
always sign up to my bus campaign and let me know how we can improve your bus service.