A temporary bus service has hit the road to help locals get between Wye River and Apollo Bay, after recent heavy rain caused landslides on the Great Ocean Road.
Normal V/Line coach services have been unable to run in the area due to emergency road works.
Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP said the Andrews Labor Government has worked with local bus operator McHarry’s Bus Lines to run the replacement service using a smaller bus fleet.
Large sections of the Great Ocean Road between Eastern View and Skenes Creek are currently weight and length restricted. The Road is still closed at Paddy’s Path between Wye River and Separation Creek, and will remain so into mid-October.
An Incident Control Centre at Colac was set up in the aftermath of the landslides on the Great Ocean Road and staff have been speaking regularly with members of the community.
Following this consultation, many locals said they needed a bus to get between Wye River and Apollo Bay to access local shops and businesses.
McHarry’s Bus Lines will operate two morning and two afternoon services in both directions with buses to stop at the existing V/Line coach stops between Wye River and Apollo Bay.
The services will run until VicRoads advises that vehicle restrictions on the Great Ocean Road are removed and V/Line coaches can resume normal operations.
Further information about public transport services in the region is available at ptv.vic.gov.au or by calling 1800 800 007.
Quotes attributable to Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP
“Road closures and traffic restrictions have made it particularly difficult for locals wanting to get between Apollo Bay and Wye River.”
“This temporary bus service will ensure locals can get where they need to go safely, while VicRoads continues to clean up the affected areas.”