Wednesday, 17 August 2022

 Ms VAGHELA (Western Metropolitan) (17:54): (2061) My adjournment matter is directed to the Honourable Ben Carroll MP in the other house for the minister’s portfolio responsibilities for public transport. Wyndham City Council is located in my electorate of Western Metropolitan Region and is one of the largest and fastest-growing municipalities in Australia. Between 2019 and 2020 Wyndham’s population grew by 12 687 residents. By the year 2041 Wyndham’s population is expected to grow to 512 591. Housing development continues in new estates across Wyndham such as the Mambourin and Cornerstone estates in the suburb of Mambourin and the Grand Central estate in Tarneit.

Many new residents moving into Wyndham are from our migrant community, and English is their second language. Residents need to access community centres and support programs to assist with their settlement in Australia. Often these community centres and support programs are not available in the immediate neighbourhood, resulting in residents needing to travel far distances. Some families have both primary school aged and high school aged children from the same household, and parents need to travel to different parts of Wyndham to drop off their children to school. The new development areas are isolated from the existing bus networks and train stations, making it difficult for residents to access public transport. In some new residential estates the closest bus stop is approximately 30 minutes walking distance. Residents accessing these bus stops are concerned for their safety when they need to walk to and from the closest bus stop at night when it is dark, particularly in winter.

The absence of adequate bus services for these areas is resulting in social isolation for some. The residents in these new residential estates require necessary bus services and transport solutions to commute safely, quickly and easily. While the required transport infrastructure is being established in the new estates demand-responsive bus services should be provided as an alternative solution for their transport needs. Better bus services across Wyndham and the new development areas will improve access to services, education and employment opportunities, assist with reducing traffic congestion and support residents with their settlement needs. The action I seek from the minister is to provide me with an update on what action the Victorian government will take to provide better bus services and access to public transport for residents of growth areas in the Western Metropolitan Region.