Gilroy College students push for school bus from Seven Hills

SEVERAL students attending Gilroy College, Castle Hill, are seeing red.

Parents whose children attend Gilroy Catholic College are unhappy about the lack of bus services from Seven Hills. Picture: Angelo Velardo

SEVERAL parents, whose children attend Gilroy Catholic College, Castle Hill, are campaigning for their children to be picked up at Seven Hills bus station, saying the bus currently leaves the depot empty.­
The group of more than 20 parents have begun a petition to get Transport for NSW and HillsBus to start picking up students from Seven Hills, instead of Solander Rd, Kings Langley.

Spokeswomen for the group Janine Ballment and Nerida Whybin said for years the school and parents have been asking Hillsbus to extend the current school bus service to begin the route at Seven Hills station in the mornings.

Nerida Whybin finds the situation ridiculous.

Mrs Ballmet said she knows families who have pulled out their children from Gilroy College because of the bus problem.

She said Transport for NSW and CDC, which runs HillsBus, keep passing the buck, making it very frustrating for them.

“At present the bus leaves the depot which is situated at Seven Hills station, but does not pick up any passengers and remains ‘out of service’ until it begins its route 8004 at Solander Rd, Kings Langley,” Mrs Ballment said.

“At this stop there are so many kids already waiting to be picked up, that by the time it reaches the connecting stop at Crestwood High it is full.

“In the meantime my son and his friends take a bus from Seven Hills station which takes them as far as Crestwood High School, where they are then picked up by this same 8004 bus if it is not already packed.
“Otherwise they have to wait for the next passing Gilroy school bus to collect them.”

Transport for NSW, when contacted, said they will review the current services for Gilroy College to determine if changes need to be made prior to the start of Term 2.

“In the meantime, we’ve advised the school and parents of alternative regular services that connect to Gilroy College from Seven Hills Station which are already available to students,” a Transport for NSW spokesman said.

The Seven Hills bus station could be an ideal start for Gilroy College students, according to the parents.

Both Greenway federal Labor MP Michelle Rowland and Seven Hills state Liberal MP Mark Taylor said they are aware of the parents’ concerns and have raised the issue with Transport Minister Andrew Constance.

“Accessible public transport for schoolchildren is very important for our local families,” Ms Rowland said.

“I have raised the extension of the route of Hillsbus 8004 with NSW Minister for Transport Andrew Constance on behalf of the local parents who have contacted me.
“I am still awaiting the Minister’s response on this issue.”

“It’s quite frustrating for parents and students when there is a clearly established need for local school bus routes and yet it is still difficult to secure an outcome from the current NSW Liberal Government.”

Mr Taylor said he “is keen to assist in students gaining improved school transport”.

Transport for NSW, when contacted, said they will review the current services for Gilroy College to determine if changes need to be made prior to the start of Term 2.

“In the meantime, we’ve advised the school and parents of alternative regular services that connect to Gilroy College from Seven Hills Station which are already available to students, ”a Transport for NSW spokesman said.

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Mrs Whybin, whose son is in Year 7, said in the afternoon, buses leave Gilroy College and end at Seven Hills Station.
“One afternoon bus — 3725 — follows the exact route as the morning bus 8004, save for the few stops between Seven Hills station and Kings Langley Solander Rd,” she said.
“Every afternoon at least 12-14 children alight at this last stop, so would it not make sense that these same children would get on at Seven Hills station if this pick up was an option?
“At present many parents drive past the station and drop their children off at Solander Rd because they do not want their children having to change buses at Crestwood and the obvious risks that could pose.

“We also know families that have removed Gilroy from their preferred choice of school because of the bus situation.

“The irony of this whole matter, is that the Hillsbus depot is at Seven Hills station, and the driver must leave from this depot to get to his first pick up point at Solander Road.
“I find CDC’s inability or unwillingness to add another three-four stops to the route seeing they start at this point is ridiculous.”