Plea for bus services to be restored to Mt Druitt

Residents of Shalvey, Lethbridge Park. Emerton and Whalan have been left high and dry by the recent cuts the 755 bus service. Older residents are particularly affected by the long walk to the new bus route, which sees them have to walk up to 800 metres to Luxford Rd.“Residents are rightly upset that their Busways services have been‘rationalised”, said Sylvia Hale, Greens Spokesperson for Western Sydney.

“Residents have told me that the 755 provided a vital link between local suburbs and that it was a was well patronised.

“I am particularly concerned that less mobile or older residents will have to walk long distances to the new bus route, especially in the heat of the day. The loss of this service may have the effect of isolating some people in their homes.

“It is distressing that Government can allow the removal of a local service despite Busways receiving a significant subsidy from the State Government to provide public transport to the area.

“If it is good enough for the Government to spend billions on its inner-city metro that is proposed to service an area already well if not over supplied with public transport,  it is reasonable for people in the Mt Druitt area to expect that local services will be maintained in this area.

“It is appalling that services will stop early on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Does the Government expect people of this area who can’t afford a car to stay home at night and not visit friends or socialise?

“Imagine the uproar if the Government stopped running buses and trains at 7pm on a Saturday night into and out of the city. It is only fair that people in this part of Sydney get a fair go when it comes to going to and from work or socialising.

”I will be asking questions of the Minister in Parliament” said Ms Hale.

Local Shalvey resident and Blacktown Greens Convenor, Debbie Robertson, said residents feel unhappy with the changes. Ms Robertson along with other local community representatives will approach the Minister for Transport, Mr David Campbell, for a meeting to discuss their concerns. “There are many local residents who want to meet with the Minister and we would like the Mayor of Blacktown, Charlie Lowles, to come with us too. We will be requesting that the Government restore the 755 service
to its previous route and that the frequency of the service be improved”, said Ms Robertson.

“While residents agree that the former bus route was a long ride, it did go past the shopping centres and the leisure centre at Emerton that Council spent millions on. Things are now less accessible now.”

“In the last years we have lost the bus service that connected us to Nirimba Campus of UWS and then to Parramatta.

“Route 674 is being held up as an alternative, but it only runs six times Mon-Fri, twice on Saturdays and once on Sunday. This affects everyone, from the school kids who have to wait around for nearly an hour when school finishes early, to the older, less mobile people who want to go to the doctors, to those who want to go for a swim at the Leisure Centre.

“We need the old services back, and we need the new express services so the buses cater for everyone” said Ms Robertson.