Round Trip In Mount Druitt Brings Better Understandings Of All Public Transport Required For Improvements

This month, the 1st June was a special day for Mount Druitt Commuters Improvement Group Inc. as 12 members travelled around other members areas, to understand all issues with Bus Services.

Since last year Peter Kerr a group member, had a motion passed in a group monthly meeting, for the use of a minibus from Blacktown City Council for group members to see lack of bus services, and public transport improvements needed in each members  area.

First we travelled to Christina, Mary, and Margaret-Anne area in Whalan where a Westbus 674 Shopper Hopper Service has been running for approx 3 yrs. This is a limited service with 6 trips Monday to Friday both ways, 2 trips Saturdays both ways, and 1 trip Sundays both ways. Commuters are happy with the new route that goes into Moresby Cres, and Samarai Rd, but need more bus services. It was noted that Moresby Cres was a narrow road, and a Bus Stop for Westbus 780 is on the exit to the overpass down from the corner of Gasmatta Cres and Luxford Rd, and creates a problem when coming home at night, having to go up a large amount of steps to enter Gasmatta Cres. A solution is to move this bus top to the top exit Corner of Gasmatta Cres and Luxford Rd close to the opposite bus stop when coming from Mt Druitt.

Then we travelled to  Shalvey Angela's area where the original Busways 755 Mt Druitt to Shalvey, and hourly service to Blacktown service was axed in 2009, the impact was devastating as it left whole communities in despair with no bus service. History tells that there was a bus service that used to travel off Luxford Rd left into  Siandra Ave, right into Koomooloo Cres, and left into Sedgman Cres, and do a loop service in Shalvey back to Luxford Rd, and returning back through Lethbridge Park to Mt Druitt. The removal of this complete service and lobbying for its return, got a partial service back with no loop service in Shalvey. The new 30 minimum service turns in the Shalvey High School Bus Bay looping back to Mt Druitt, unless continuing on to Plumpton on a limited hourly service.Solution is to bring back the 755 as it was before it was removed in October 2009. There is a service Busways 758 Mt Druitt Shalvey, with  some services continuing to St Marys, that was introduced when the 755 service was axed. This 15min full service is not accessible to most Shalvey residents, as its route is Bidwill into Shalvey, looping near the Shalvey  Primary School, and back to Mt Druitt through Bidwill. The issue is here that buses are travelling in the areas of Shalvey where there is a majority of private housing with one and two cars per household, and not covering the area that really needs to have a bus service in Shalvey. This 758 service is a great service if most of Shalvey Commuters could access it!!  

Then we travelled to Chestnut Cres Bidwill Lester and Diana's area were they used to live, before moving to Seven Hills, due to NO BUS to get to work. The  Busways 762 used to travel west to east on this road and had eight bus stops, changing to Busways 761 going to Mt Druitt when reaching Bidwill. Now the Busways 761 travels in an east to west direction because of a blind spot exiting Chestnut Cres across Luxford Rd, this new service has only 4 bus stops in Chestnut Cres with an approx distance of 1.8 Kilometres, and NO service on Sundays. Over the Easter Holidays there was 4 days in a row when this street had NO BUS. Solution is to return the buses to previous time tables, and loop Busways 761 with a return of Busways 762 to obtain a bus service back in this area.

Then we travelled to Allan's area, were the Busways 761-762 which used to go into Manifold Rd from Popondetta Rd and then right into Carlisle Rd straight through and do the Bidwill run and return as the 762. This means that same as the Chestnut Cres issue above the  return of the 761/762 loop service in this area would solve the present problem.

We then reached Ropes Crossing near were Pauline lives at Wilmott, we were told that there is no buses going through Australis Drive, Rope Crossing yet Westbus proposed in November 2011 That there was a proposed bus to go from Ropes Crossing shops to Australis Drive, Into Palmyra Drive, Wilmott and then left into Captain Cook Drive Willmot and then back into Palmyra Drive, and then to Mt Druitt. The issue is the following heading onto Australis Drive from Ropes Crossing in the North-East direction, the new housing estates on the Northwest area of Ropes Crossing, currently do not have a bus services, which is an extremely long walk to Ropes Crossing, and between Australis Drive and Captain Cook Drive South-East, there will be only the limited Westbus 674 service going to Windsor. So no proper regular bus services!!

Then we went to South Mt Druitt Peters area where there were two proposed changes, to cater for the residents of Frank, Janet, Emily and Paul Streets. The first  proposal was for Busways 739 from Mt Druitt to travel from Miller St, heading south turn right into Frank St, left into Dixon St, right into Miller St, and into George St, and on the return trip. The second proposal was for Busways 739V continue from corner of Franks St and Coates St, down  left into George St, left into Miller St, then right into Coates St and left into Fuller St.To return services back to this area, that have been removed.

Finally we all travelled on the Proposed Mt Druitt Free Shuttle Bus Route. This will be an excellent route meeting the needs of the community, linking from the bus Interchange, Tafe, Loyola College, Rooty Hill R.S.L., Bowling Alley, through the Hospital grounds, past Shop Smart, on to R.T.A., Police Station, down Luxford Rd to the Mt Druitt Industrial Complex, and Anglicare before looping back to the Station.

We would like to THANK all those who made this day possible, Rob Buckwell our bus driver, Blacktown City Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson for paying hiring fees on a BCC bus for this trip, Margaret- Anne for driving Rob to pick up the bus from Rooty Hill, and driving him home again, Pauline for collating all members issued, and planning the route to submit to council, Angela, President ensuring members were notified of arrangements, and finalising the bus, and Joan for organising the bus driver for our trip for us.

The best comment I heard today was  from Rob Buckwell who advised he has heard about our group, would like to join but has to much voluntary work on his plate!

Thanks to all group members who attended the  day "making it a great success" and John, Secretary for placing this story on our Blog....