INDEPENDENT Member for Shepparton District, Suzanna Sheed, has called for an urgent review of the Shepparton and Mooroopna town bus network.
Ms Sheed said current services are totally inadequate and need an immediate overhaul.
“The bus services are infrequent, extremely limited on Saturdays, don’t run at all on Sundays or public holidays, fail to coordinate with rail services at Shepparton Railway Station, and ignore Shepparton and Mooroopna’s growth areas,” Ms Sheed said.
The need for a review is urgent, Ms Sheed told the Victorian Parliament last week.
“Mooroopna and Shepparton have expanded significantly since the last review was undertaken and completion of stage one of the redevelopment of GV Health, the impending completion of the Shepparton Art Museum and numerous other developments are creating a much greater demand on our public transport system,” Ms Sheed said.
“Services are infrequent, running only hourly between 8am- 6pm on weekdays, limited service on Saturdays, and none on Sundays or public holidays, with no direct bus link between Shepparton and Tatura. It’s mind boggling that the bus doesn’t coordinate with any rail services at the Shepparton Railway Station and it doesn’t service many of Shepparton and Mooroopna’s growth areas.”
The Shepparton and Mooroopna bus network has had no substantial update since 2008 and was last reviewed in 2006.
“A review is well overdue,” Ms Sheed said.
It’s a call supported by Dysons Shepparton depot manager, Roy Dyson.
“We agree there’s room for improvement, certainly with the growth of the population there’s room to enhance the service,” Mr Dyson said.
“We think a review is overdue.”
Dysons runs the nine routes through Shepparton and Mooroopna, along with school bus services and V/Line routes.
Mr Dyson said future changes could include changed routes or more routes.
He said his company frequently received feedback, particularly around travel to and from schools, and the lack of services on weekends.
In response to an enquiry to the office of Minister for Public Transport, Ben Carroll, a spokesperson said the Department of Transport periodically reviews bus networks to ensure services are appropriate for the area, however did not comment on if or when a review of the network was on the cards.
