Bacchus Marsh residents have signed a petition demanding their new bus route be scrapped and the old one reinstated.
The petition outlines passengers’ concerns about the 435 route from Bacchus Marsh station to Darley.
The petition, put together by 72-year-old Darley resident Audrey Pearson, says the new 435 route is an inconvenience to older residents.
Mrs Pearson said the new route and the change and removal of bus stops made it more difficult for older residents to get to bus stops and limited their access to public transport.
“This bus is only going one way and coming back the same way, missing out on lots of people,” Mrs Pearson said.
“A lot of people are having to walk such a long way [to get to a bus stop] and so am I.”
Mrs Pearson’s petition suggests the 435 go back to the previous route for one leg of the journey and follow the new route in the other direction, ensuring more residents could use the service.
She said residents of Fitzroy Street were especially affected following the removal of closer bus stops.
Moorabool council received the petition, which has been signed by 45 people, at a council meeting on Wednesday, August 6. It was officially tabled at last week’s meeting and the council decided to forward it to Transport Minister Terry Mulder on behalf of the community.
“We’ll advocate on behalf of the local community regarding the concerns outlined in the petition by forwarding it on to the responsible authority, the Minister for Public Transport,” chief executive Rob Croxford said.
“Armed with this information, council staff will liaise with key partners Public Transport Victoria and Bacchus Marsh Coaches about the viability of the Bacchus Marsh Golf Club and the Darley activity centre/recreation precinct being incorporated into Route 435.”
