This is a recent article in the Star Newspaper St Marys
BY KYLIE STEVENS
Click here for the story, with pictures, reported by Mt Druitt Commuters Improvement Group
Click here for the story, with pictures, reported by Mt Druitt Commuters Improvement Group
24 May, 2011 10:18 AM
A COMMUNITY cry for help from stranded residents for more buses in North St Marys has Londonderry state MP Bart Bassett on board. He will lobby transport minister Gladys Berejiklian for the return of more services after last week’s meeting with residents who had what he called ‘‘very legitimate concerns’’.
Ken Moriarty led a community uproar after the 782 Westbus route servicing the suburb was axed during a transport overhaulin October 2009.
With help from the St Marys-Mt Druitt Star which broke the story, a community campaign led to diversions to the 745 Busways route StMarys and CastleHill, which doesn’t run on Sundays or public holidays.
MrMoriarty was initially grateful— until he learned it takes two buses to get to Penrith. Residents in Griffiths Street and Jakaranda Road remained without a service, like Patricia Guy.
She and Mr Moriarty recently collected 100 signatures in support the old 782 route.
It comes after Westbus earlier this year agreed to divert a 780 morning and afternoon service through North St Marys on weekdays after representations on the behalf of students who attend school outside the local area.
Mrs Guy said some services that now terminate at Werrington could continue to St Marys via North St Marys.
‘‘The previous timetable provided 22 buses a day Monday to Friday,’’ she said.
''We would be satisfied with half that number.''
Mr Moriarty said:
‘‘People don’t want to go to Castle Hill— they need to go to Penrith for medical appointments.
Many elderly people here relied on the 782 for that. What happened to people in North St Marys played a big part in why former MP Allan Shearan was voted out.’’
Mr Bassett couldn’t estimate a timeframe but hopes to discuss the topic with Ms Berejiklian this week.
They and Hawkesbury MP RayWilliams met with residents when the 782 was first axed.
‘‘I’mhopeful there’s enough flexibility in the current system to reduce the number of some high-frequency services and put them back in place in North StMarys,’’Mr Bassett said.
Ken Moriarty led a community uproar after the 782 Westbus route servicing the suburb was axed during a transport overhaulin October 2009.
With help from the St Marys-Mt Druitt Star which broke the story, a community campaign led to diversions to the 745 Busways route StMarys and CastleHill, which doesn’t run on Sundays or public holidays.
MrMoriarty was initially grateful— until he learned it takes two buses to get to Penrith. Residents in Griffiths Street and Jakaranda Road remained without a service, like Patricia Guy.
She and Mr Moriarty recently collected 100 signatures in support the old 782 route.
It comes after Westbus earlier this year agreed to divert a 780 morning and afternoon service through North St Marys on weekdays after representations on the behalf of students who attend school outside the local area.
Mrs Guy said some services that now terminate at Werrington could continue to St Marys via North St Marys.
‘‘The previous timetable provided 22 buses a day Monday to Friday,’’ she said.
''We would be satisfied with half that number.''
Mr Moriarty said:
‘‘People don’t want to go to Castle Hill— they need to go to Penrith for medical appointments.
Many elderly people here relied on the 782 for that. What happened to people in North St Marys played a big part in why former MP Allan Shearan was voted out.’’
Mr Bassett couldn’t estimate a timeframe but hopes to discuss the topic with Ms Berejiklian this week.
They and Hawkesbury MP RayWilliams met with residents when the 782 was first axed.
‘‘I’mhopeful there’s enough flexibility in the current system to reduce the number of some high-frequency services and put them back in place in North StMarys,’’Mr Bassett said.
Posts
North St Marys is being discriminated against. How? When the present timetable was introduced (11 October 2009) the north St Marys leg of the 782 was cancelled. At the same time a 10 minute service was introduced beween St Marys and Penrith stations. There are 102 buses to Penrith and 96 from Penrith to St Marys each weekday. (University students don't want that number of buses as they're screaming out for more car spaces.) Those responsible take from one area and over-service another area. That number of buses is a waste of taxpayers' money paid as a subsidy to the bus operators. I'm sure St Ives wouldn't even have a 10 minute bus service all through the day. Could tthere have been some confusion between St Marys and St Ives? Even the Metro buses servicing more heavily populated areas don't provide a 10 minute bus service through the day.
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, passenger numbers on the north St Marys leg of the 782 were said to be "poor". In that case the thing to do was TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF BUSES NOT CANCEL THEM ALTOGETHER. I am puzzled though what is classed as "poor" as there are plenty of other buses running around either empty or wih few passengers.
Are you able to post my comment for me please.