South-Eastern Metropolitan Region
Rachel PAYNE (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (13:02): (203) My constituency question is for the Minister for Public Transport Minister Carroll. My constituent is a resident of Dandenong, and her question relates to one of south-eastern Melbourne’s busiest bus routes, the route 800 Dandenong to Chadstone. This bus takes hundreds of daily commuters to shopping centres, hotels, hospitals, the Springvale cemetery, Monash University and other community services situated along the Princes Highway. Despite the development and population growth in this region, the route 800 bus runs without a seven-day service and has had no timetable upgrade for over 30 years. My constituent says that commuters have widely documented their need for an improved service, but as of last week’s budget the route continues to be overlooked for extra services. An upgrade would benefit thousands of people along one of Melbourne’s busiest corridors, so my constituent asks: when will the Victorian state government upgrade the route 800 bus service to include a seven-day service, longer operating hours and more frequent services?