Government “finalising” more Parkville Gardens buses

The Victorian Government has confirmed that it is “finalising details” for additional bus services to Parkville Gardens following continued advocacy from local Greens MPs Dr Tim Read and Ellen Sandell.

Parkville Gardens currently falls under the Victorian seat of Brunswick overseen by Greens MP Dr Tim Read but the suburb will be transferred to the seat of Melbourne held by fellow Greens MP Ellen Sandell ahead of the state election in November.

In February, Dr Read asked Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll when the frequency of the 505 bus service between Moonee Ponds and the University of Melbourne would be increased as planned in the 2021/22 Victorian Budget.

Minster Carroll, who took the question on notice, issued a response last month stating that the government was “continuing to plan” for additional services, which “includes discussions with the local bus operator and an analysis of the local road network including the impact of works around Grattan St as part of the Victorian Government’s Big Build”.

“I look forward to advising the Member and his community in due course once this work has been finalised,” Minister Carroll said.

A state government spokesperson said it was now “finalising details” for the additional services.

Route 505 was initially introduced primarily to provide public transport access to the former 2006 Commonwealth Games athletes village, known as Parkville Gardens. Since then, demand has grown as the Parkville Gardens residential development has continued to expand.

Greens MP for Melbourne Ellen Sandell questioned why it was taking the state government so long to fix the “inadequate service”.

“Parkville Gardens residents shouldn’t have to wait an hour for the next bus,” Ms Sandell said.

“After The Greens raised this in parliament, the government funded increased peak hour services in the May 2021 budget but 17 months later nothing has happened. Labor says they are still planning. How long do they need to fix an inadequate service?”  •