We’ve been lobbying the Victorian Government for several years now to improve the bus network in Melbourne’s western suburbs. While we’ve had some small wins, they’ve largely been piecemeal improvements and a far cry from the complete overhaul that is so desperately needed.
It may not seem that long ago since the last state budget was announced but we know that work on the next budget is already well underway. In fact, by the end of the year, many of the key funding decisions will have been made.
We’ve therefore started a parliamentary petition calling on the Victorian government to commit at least $100 million additional annual operational funding in the next budget cycle. We’re also requesting a capital investment of at least $100 million to reform the bus network across the Western metropolitan area into a fast, frequent and connected grid, serviced by clean, electric buses.
David Ettershank MP, Member for Western Metropolitan Region, has agreed to sponsor the petition. This means that once we reach 2000 signatures he will present the petition in parliament and there will be a discussion about bus reform in the legislative council!
Over the past 2 weeks, we have already managed to gather 500 signatures! Just this past weekend we went along to Wyndham Makers and Farmers Market, and Bulla Bohemian market, where people were very much on board with better buses! If you want to pop by, you can find us over the next two weeks at:
28/8 Sunshine station bus interchange - 1pm-3pm
31/8 Wyndham Learning Festival Launch - Encore Event Centre Hoppers Crossing - 12.30pm - 4pm
(we will upload more as they are locked in)
Keep an eye out through to the end of September, as we will be collecting signatures at bus stops, train stations, markets, and other local events in the west, and be sure to come over to say hi and sign the petition! If you have any ideas for events we should attend to collect more signatures, please send us a message or email to [email protected].
Adele Vosper - Sustainable Cities Collective