Hills commuters claim Opal price rise not warranted due to lack of public transport infrastructure

COMMUTERS say an Opal fare price increase on July 2 is not warranted due to a lack of infrastructure and parking around public transport hubs across The Hills.

Bus commuter Dineesha Dronavalli waits for her bus at the Burns T-Way at Kellyville. Pic: AAP Image/Troy Snook

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COMMUTERS say an Opal fare price increase on July 2 is not warranted due to a lack of infrastructure and parking around public transport hubs across The Hills.

NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance revealed fares would rise by 2.2 per cent next month, or on average about 39c per passenger a week.

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Mr Constance said the increase reflected the rate of inflation and was less than the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal’s recommended increase of 4.2 per cent

Kellyville resident Dineesha Dronavalli said she and her husband already paid the equivalent of one month’s salary a year to commute to the city and were concerned about what the increase would mean for young families.

Commuters are unhappy Opal fares are about to rise, meaning that the Hills only form of public transport will become more expensive. Pic: AAP Image/Troy Snook

“It just isn’t right, this is the only public transport available …,” she said. “There is not enough parking and infrastructure at our bus stops and T-ways to cater for such a large population in The Hills, but the government still thinks it is okay to increase our fares.”

Mrs Dronavalli said the increase could push some households “over the edge”.

“Our wages aren’t increasing but cost of living, including Opal is,” she said. “Every day I travel from Kellyville to Town Hall and off-peak this already costs $5.60 or more than $2800 a year.”

Bus commuter Dineesha Dronavalli spends one months wage to commute each year. Pic: AAP Image/Troy Snook

The Opal fare increase could mean some commuters will pay an extra $60 per year to commute by bus from Kellyville to the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney.

Mr Constance said while there had been improvements to public transport links, he recognised affordability was a key concern.

“Since the introduction of Opal in 2012, this government has kept the fares low with a five-year fare freeze and then an adjustment to fares by CPI only last year, and again this coming financial year,” he said. “Since 2011 we have introduced over 30,000 additional weekly public transport services and still managed to keep fares low.”