Wednesday, 13 November 2024

 Bridget VALLENCE (Evelyn) (19:00): (921) As Lilydale and Mooroolbark grow, with more houses and residents coming into the Kinley estate housing development in Lilydale, our local community is keen to know what the state government’s public transport plan is for the area, in particular buses in and around Kinley. The matter I raise is for the Minister for Public Transport, and the action I seek is for the minister to detail the public bus plan for the streets within and around Kinley estate. Again, this is specifically for buses. Access to reliable, frequent and flexible public transport, particularly buses, is vital for our growing community. The government may point to the train stations at either end of Kinley, but the sheer size of the massive 163-hectare development at Kinley means there is a need for buses to ensure people can get around easily and safely and reduce the propensity for more cars to be on the road.

With an estimated 8000 more residents moving into the area as houses are built over the next few years, it would make sense to roll out bus routes within Kinley as soon as possible. Also, many residents may not have the need to use a train but would be better served by a bus – for example, accessing local schools such as Mooroolbark College, Rolling Hills Primary School and Victoria Road Primary School; to attend medical appointments at Eastern Health in Lilydale or the doctors and health services on and near Main Street, Lilydale; or to get to the shops at Lilydale Marketplace or Brice Avenue in Mooroolbark. Buses are needed to help all residents, whether they be elderly, vulnerable, young families, or teenagers getting to and from their casual after-school and weekend jobs.

In an adjournment that I raised back in March 2019, adjournment number 201 in the last Parliament, about adequate infrastructure in and around Kinley, the then Minister for Transport Infrastructure and now Premier stated in her response:

Planning for the former Lilydale Quarry site is ongoing, and the Department of Transport has been working alongside the Victorian Planning Authority, Yarra Ranges Council and site owner, lntrapac, to address a range of transport issues in and around the Lilydale Quarry precinct.

Importantly, in this response the now Premier acknowledged the need to address the range of transport issues, which necessarily includes buses. Furthermore, the October 2021 Former Lilydale Quarry Comprehensive Development Plan, which was approved and gazetted, referred to an expanded bus network at section 4.4, page 22, stating:

A bus capable street network will be provided within the site, linking new development to … the broader metropolitan network.

The Victorian Liberals pledge at the 2022 election was to undertake a comprehensive bus network review, and now that the government has taken up our policy our community hopes this will include new buses for Kinley without too much more delay. My community looks forward to the minister’s response.