AVELEY residents hoping for a bus route linking them to Ellenbrook were given hope last week when Transport Minister Simon O’Brien said it would be a priority this year.
But residents were dealt a blow when Mr O’Brien admitted there were no plans for a direct bus service from Ellenbrook to Midland on weekends and public holidays.
The admissions were made to East Metropolitan Region MLC Linda Savage in Parliament on Tuesday, March 15.
Ms Savage met with Aveley residents on Friday to break the news. She said the issue of public transport in Ellenbrook and Aveley remained a major concern for residents.
“Over the last two years, Perth’s population has grown more than 5 per cent but the Government has only increased bus funding by a little over 1 per cent,” she said.
Aveley resident Kath Mitchell has been pushing for a local bus route.
“I have given out 300 Aveley bus survey cards to people not living in Aveley but who have an interest in the area such as businesses, children at school, or friends and relatives in Aveley,” she said.
“Many people I have spoken to are not happy with the existing bus services.”
Resident Maureen Scorer said residents needed a weekend bus route from Ellenbrook to Midland and more on week days.
“There are two buses in the morning and two in the afternoon on week days but none in the middle of the day,” she said.
“There are many elderly residents in the area and if they need to do their shopping or go to a doctor’s appointment, they have to wait around all day to get home on the bus,” she said.
“If they want to go to the movies or shop on weekends, they can’t because there is no bus.”
Mr O’Brien said in Parliament that the Ellenbrook to Midland route was in place primarily for students.