More Victorian students will be able to catch a school bus next year as the Andrews Labor Government rolls out the first in a suite of additional school bus services across the state.
Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll said the services are funded by a $25 million investment announced in the Victorian Budget 2022/23 to introduce, modify and extend school bus services across the state, with a focus on growth areas.
A four-year program, the additional services will initially target recently opened schools in growth areas where student demand is high and school bus services can be introduced, expanded or rerouted to take in these locations.
The first 14 schools in metropolitan and regional areas that will get a new or improved school bus services in 2023, and the local areas directly benefitting, are:
Riverwalk Estate to Werribee Secondary College
- Rockbank via Aintree to Springside West Secondary College
- Clyde North and Tooradin to Clyde Secondary College
- Donnybrook via Kalkallo, Mickleham and Craigieburn to Mount Ridley College
- Wollert to Wollert Secondary College
- Bannockburn to Bannockburn P12 College and Mary McKillop Catholic Primary School
- Ocean Grove to Bellarine Secondary College and St Ignatius College
- Ocean Grove to Sacred Heart College Geelong and St Joseph's College, Geelong
- Cardigan Village and Lucas to Lucas Primary School & Ballarat High School
- Oakleigh and Ashwood to Ashwood High School
The initiative is part of the Labor Government's $109 million investment announced in the Victorian Budget 2022/23 to improve local bus services in growing areas and further puts into action Victoria's Bus Plan to meet demand, enhance accessibility and performance, and deliver value for money for all passengers.
New services under the initiative will be rolled out over the next 24 months with most new services to start in time for the 2024 school year.
As stated by Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll
"We're giving Victorians parents and students better access to school bus services in the regional and metropolitan growth areas where there is high demand, and they are needed most."
"Through Victoria's Bus Plan we're delivering a modern, productive, environmentally sustainable bus network that increases the number of people choosing to take the bus."
