On 8 August the Minister for Public Transport visited Geelong with welcome news
of 400 additional weekly bus services as part of the massive $80 million Brumby
Labor government package to boost public transport links. From the beginning of
next week, on top of the 400 new weekly bus services there will be an additional
39 weekend services across Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula, improving
connections for people living and working in Belmont, Grovedale, St Albans Park,
Waurn Ponds, Breakwater, Whittington, Newcomb, Leopold and East Geelong.
This announcement is stage 1 of the $80 million package, with
the second stage to be rolled out next year, including a new central bus
interchange in Moorabool Street and better bus connections in Queenscliff, Ocean
Grove, Barwon Heads, St Leonards, Hamlyn Heights, Herne Hill, Queens Park,
Highton and Wandana Heights.
Ben Sangster, the service development manager for McHarry’s
Buslines, is reported in the Geelong News as saying that extra services meant
passengers would get to their destinations by a more direct route. He said:
- The set routes will be a lot easier to understand. It’s a big project, but
it’s fantastic for Geelong.
The whole project is great news for all current and potential
public transport users in the Geelong and Bellarine areas.
