Transport Minister Andrew Constance rejects calls for on-demand bus services to Sydney Metro stations

A petition with hundreds of signatures was launched days before his rejection, but Transport Minister Andrew Constance hasn’t budged when it comes to fast tracking on-demand services from Kellyville to Sydney Metro stations.

Mercedes Durant, Jon Moran, Ming Lau and Marichelle Usi said they have been left off the on-demand bus list for the Sydney metro northwest network services. Picture: AAP IMAGE / Angelo Velardo

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Transport Minister Andrew Constance has rejected calls for on-demand bus services to be installed in Kellyville, Beaumont Hills and Rouse Hill to access the Sydney Metro northwest — despite a strong petition from residents for the Government to install the transport options.

Mr Constance was contacted by Castle Hill state Liberal MP Ray Williams and North Kellyville Advocacy Group representative Ming Lau, who called for the new services, which are currently in operation in other suburbs across The Hills, to be introduced to the North Kellyville community.

However, in a letter responding to the bid from residents, Mr Constance said there was “no plans to extend the on-demand zone at this time”.

Mr Constance said that he raised the community’s concerns with the on-demand transport team and Transport for NSW.

“The NSW Government is committed to delivering public transport that is accessible to all customers,” he told Mr Williams and Mr Lau.

Jon Moranis one of the residents are complaining that they have been left off the on-demand bus list for the Sydney metro northwest network services. Picture: AAP IMAGE / Angelo Velardo

The on-demand zones were determined by the operators who considered several factors, including the number of vehicles available and the ability to meet estimated journey times.

“The NSW Government will closely monitor the on-demand service and will consider all customer feedback.”

Mr Constance said the government will use data from the on-demand services and trials to plan future public transport improvements.

Mr Lau said he was disappointed in the response from the minister: “I would have expected the minister will have a look at the request and reach out to see what we, as the community, would like to see happen,” he said.

Following a lack of action from the NSW Government, Mr Lau called on members of the community to sign a petition, calling form Transport for NSW to install the on-demand services in North Kellyville.

“After talking to a number of community and also our North Kellyville Advocacy Group Admins, we feel that maybe the petition would able to help put some weight into the matter,” he said.

“We now have 226 signatures from the greater North Kellyville community, who said they would like both on-demand buses and also increased and expand normal standard bus service into North Kellyville.

Mr Constance has rejected calls for on-demand bus services to be installed in Kellyville, Beaumont Hills and Rouse Hill. Picture: AAP IMAGE / Angelo Velardo

“If the Minister do not wish to provide the on-demand service, then the community would like the Minister to look into making changes to our current North Kellyville service to include area like Foxall and Withers roads to access the stations.”

Mr Lau said he feared the North Kellyville community would be left out when it comes to on-demand services in the future, “which is a shame as our community is growing and we really wish that the minister would look at fixing up our current public transport infrastructure”.

“The community is really angry with the minister’s response, and feel that our community has been short changed by the State Government,” he said.

“ With the extra $1.6 billion put in for this budget and we feel the North Kellyville community will not see it at all.”

Mr Williams said all areas of The Hills, including rural suburbs, have had an increase in frequency of services on a daily basis, “particularly across North Kellyville, Rouse Hill and out further”.

He said the NSW Government was currently undertaking an in depth patronage analysis to determine where increased services will be introduced in the future.

“We have seen a huge reduction in traffic on Windsor, Old Windsor roads and Memorial Ave,” he said.

“But we still need more services and we are seeing the community call for these services with the latest petition in North Kellyville which I will continue to champion to Transport for NSW.”