NSW State Government Notified

In such a short time our Save Our Bus Services Group has achieved the recoginition of community members drastically affected by the delection of servcies from great communities around Mount Druitt - please find details that is obtaineable from the NSW Government hansard . Both sides of government are showing their support!

(Notice given 10 November 2009)

Mr R.C. WILLIAMS to move—

That this House:

(1) Notes that 60 to 70 residents attended a community meeting at Whalan Community Centre on Saturday 8 November 2009, who have had their bus services such as the 755,766 and 782cancelled.

(2) Commends the work by the ‘Save Our Buses’ organisation that arranged the meeting and haslobbied for the reinstatement of these vital bus services.

(3) Condemns the Government for cancelling the 755, 766 and 782 bus services in areas such asWhalan, Mt Druitt and St Marys.

(4) Calls on the Government to immediately reinstate these and other bus services across WesternSydney that have been cancelled, which are affecting the most vulnerable members of our society,such as the elderly, disabled people and school children.


LONDONDERRY ELECTORATE BUS SERVICES

Mr ALLAN SHEARAN (Londonderry) [12.07 p.m.]:

All members will be well aware of the impact of changes in our communities. People generally do not like change, especially if they feel they are losing a long-term advantage. Such is the case when changes are made to timetables. Over the last month we have seen in Londonderry the introduction of new timetable for our buses. However, there have been some difficulties. One of the problems with any changes is that those who draft the changes are not always fully aware of the consequences upon the community. They draft the changes on paper, but it is not until the changes are implemented that the full impact becomes apparent.Such was the case in relation to two areas in my electorate, the north St Marys area and the Whalan area. What was particularly disappointing, despite the best of intentions, is that it appears the 12-month consultation process was not as effective in certain areas as one would want. While I am advised that in Region One significant changes were made to more than 16 proposals because of community feedback, in some areas there was confusion about the process or simply notices of the proposed changes were misplaced. Notwithstanding,

I will be forever grateful for the prompt action taken by the Minister for Transport, the Hon. David Campbell, and his staff upon their being informed of some of the problems faced by my constituents.Coincidentally, the Minister had visited my electorate in the first week of October, which gave me the opportunity to personally discuss with him the main concerns in Londonderry. For example, residents who used to catch the Westbus 782 service had raised the issue that buses would no longer travel along local streets in North St Marys, making it more difficult for them to access St Marys shops and railway station. Leading the call was Ken Moriarty and his wife Lorna. They certainly left no question as to what they thought of the timetable and in a very short time were able to gather a petition illustrating the effect of the changes. In response, I was able to show the Minister the extra distances that residents, many of them elderly, would have to walk to gain access to the bus services. After meetings with Ken and Lorna, I was later able to announce that the Minister had directed Busways to reinstate a service along Kurrajong Road and Maple Road, St Marys.In relation to the bus services in Whalan, I was approached by Mr John Svoboda on behalf of Save Our Bus Services. Initially the group raised concerns about the discontinuance of buses along Bulolo Drive in Whalan. I raised this matter with the Minister, and I am happy to say that after explaining the impact on residents in the area the Minister directed Westbus to bring back services to Bulolo Drive. I feel it is important to acknowledge the work of the members of Save Our Bus Services and other residents.

In this regard Minister Campbell listened to the concerns raised by the local community, and responded quickly and appropriately.<14>Notwithstanding, a further community meeting was arranged by SOBS last Saturday morning when about 50 residents attended and expressed concerns about other impacts of the timetable. Both the member for Mount Druitt Mr Richard Amery and I attended. In respect to the Londonderry electorate one of the main concerns raised was the discontinuance of bus services along Gasmatta Crescent, Whalan. Over the past few weeks the issue of Gasmatta Crescent has become in my mind and that of my constituents in the area a very valid concern. The area is home to a large number of elderly residents who in many instances have resided in the area for more than 20 years.

A boast of the transport providers is that no person would be more than 400 metres from access to bus services. However, upon investigation it became very apparent that this was not the case in relation to residents who used to get their bus services in Gasmatta Crescent. I personally checked the distance from one of these residents and it was over 700 metres just to walk to the main road, that is Luxford Road, from where they now have to catch their bus. During the meeting, as one can imagine, there was a lot of emotion and passion about the difficulties they now face. For instance, Peter told me he now has to walk three-quarters of a mile to get his bus service which was easily accessible for the past 40 years since he moved to the area; Ninette asked why did the Department of Housing build units for the elderly, who now find they have to walk some distance to get their buses; Mal simply asked why; Helen stated that she now has no transport to get to the doctor for her monthly appointments; Bev mentioned that it is hard for her to walk to Luxford Road and to cross the busy four-lane road; and Mary summarised her overall concerns, as follows:
Many other elderly people like ourselves, who have had the convenience of the bus service in Gasmatta Crescent. Now because the service has been taken away we have to endure a very uncomfortable long walk, plus the very real danger of crossing Luxford Road to catch a bus. Gasmatta is a loop road turns off Luxford Road and rejoins Luxford. So why in the wild world would you take the service away? These were just a few of the comments made on the day and I gave an assurance to the meeting I would raise these matters in Parliament, hence my private member's statement today. I have also made personal approaches to the Minister for Transport asking him to give this matter his close consideration. People like Ken and Lorna Moriaty and John Svoboda and members of Save Our Bus Services do not normally get too upset about matters but when services are detrimentally affected which impact upon them and their neighbours they look for action. In this regard I want to place on record my appreciation for their thankless efforts. I also want to reiterate my appreciation to the Minister and his staff and trust that their deliberations on this remaining issue of Gassmatta Crescent is very carefully examined.