Residents of Harmony Retirement Village have faced unexpected travel challenges, meaning some have to walk up to a kilometre to catch public transport.
Why?
Last year, the Zurcas Lane bus stop in Shepparton was abruptly closed, a situation that local leaders are now pushing to address.
State Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe expressed her concerns in a recent letter to the Victorian Public and Active Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams, requesting the re-opening of the bus stop.
“For many years, Bus Route 7 would stop right outside Harmony Village, where there is a purpose-built bus shelter,” Ms O’Keeffe said.
“It was frequently used by many residents who caught the bus as their main form of transport.”
The closure not only impacts Harmony Village but also the East Shepparton Bowls Club located on Zurcas Lane, further limiting access for club members.
“This has been a well-utilised bus stop by the community with no issues, and all of a sudden, it is shut down without any consideration or transport alternatives for those who use the bus service,” Ms O’Keeffe said.
“It defies logic as to why this stop has been shut down.”
Ms O’Keeffe has also called for a comprehensive bus service review for Shepparton, stating that “it has been 15 years since we’ve had a bus review”.
“During that time, our region has grown and has highlighted the need for future bus services,” she said.
“Rather than taking services away, the minister should acknowledge our region’s increased transport needs.”
In response to growing frustrations among residents and transport operators, a petition has been launched requesting the Victorian Government conduct a comprehensive review of bus services for Shepparton and the surrounding areas.
Interested individuals can access the petition via parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/petitions/shepparton-bus-service-review