Survey: Botany Bay among worst in NSW for public transport

Residents of the old Botany Bay local government area have voted their public transport options as the second worst in NSW, a new survey has found.

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Botany residents have voted their area as the second worst in NSW for public transport options in a new survey.

The NRMA has released the results of its Rate Your Road survey, which gained more than 23,000 votes.

It asked residents to score the efficiency of local public transport, with Manly coming out on top earning a mark of 77/100.

Public transport in the old Botany Bay local government area, however, was blasted by locals who rated it a 43/100.

Bus 310 on Botany rd at Banksmeadow. Picture: Craig Wilson

That was second worst only to the Hawkesbury, which rated 35/100. Botany’s mark was only just better than other areas on the very fringes of Sydney, including Wollondilly (44) and Camden (45).

NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said Northern Beaches residents had access to fast ferries, Sydney ferries, regular B-Line bus services, on-demand transport and free shuttle services.

Mr Khoury said those options blew Botany’s out of the water.

“A bus from Botany to the CBD can take up to 70 minutes and can involve multiple connections,” he said.

“By contrast, commuters on the Manly Fast Ferry can get from Manly to Circular Quay in just over 15 minutes.”

NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury. Picture: AAP Image/Chris Pavlich

Train services from Mascot station to the CBD are notoriously busy, while residents last year vented their fury over changes to local bus services.

In total five new routes were introduced in late 2018, and seven existing routes were altered.

Bus user Davina Murray, of Banksia St, Botany, told the Southern Courier in December she was furious at the lack of consultation.

“If you don’t live on Botany Road it is going to be a nightmare. We’re only 12km from the city but some people will have to get three buses to get there,” she said.

Manly’s array of options saw it ranked first. Picture: Clinton Mclachlan

Banksmeadow’s Greg Killeen told the Courier that changes to the 309 service between his suburb and Matraville had blown out a 10-minute to trip to 40 minutes.

It now required changing onto the 307 bus at Botany before heading back in the other direction to Matraville via Eastlakes, he said.

Randwick (62), Waverley (66), Woollahra (68), City of Sydney (64) and Inner West (62) all scored significantly higher than Botany.

Top 5 areas (out of 100):

Manly — 77

Hunters Hill and North Sydney — 73

Willoughby — 72

Burwood and Mosman — 71

Marrickville — 70

Worst 5 areas:

Hawkesbury — 35

Botany Bay — 43

Wollondilly — 44

Camden — 45

Newcastle — 47