Armstrong Creek bus upgrade in the works, questions remain over rail

Residents in Torquay and Armstrong Creek can expect an upgrade to bus services this year, but any update on future public transport options – including rail – remain a long way off.

Commuters disembark from the Route 55 bus. The route is currently the only bus route to bisect Armstrong Creek, with others travelling along Barwon Heads Rd and the Surf Coast Hwy. Picture: Nathan Dyer

Torquay and Armstrong Creek residents should expect an upgrade to bus services this year, but any update to further public transport upgrades – including rail – remain a long way off.

Less than a week after community organisation Surf Coast Energy Group (SCEG) called on the Department of Transport and Planning to announce when the new network would commence, the state government has revealed changes are expected in 2024.

“We’re currently undertaking planning work to consider transport options to link the growing Armstrong Creek community,” a Department of Transport spokeswoman said.

“We are working to improve Torquay and Armstrong Creek bus services, with the changes expected to be introduced later this year.”

The state government is currently working through the details of the changes with the Surf Coast Shire, the City of Greater Geelong and McHarrys Buslines.

Public Transport Users Association Geelong branch spokesman Paul Westcott said an improved bus network to service the rapidly growing area was long overdue, and he’d believe it “when (he) saw it”.

“It’s all been very pie in the sky as far as the transit corridor, and public transport generally, in Armstrong Creek goes,” he said.

“As far as the residents are concerned, they’re still largely without accessible public transport.”

Mr Westcott said dependency on cars had been entrenched in the rapidly growing area, with traffic expected to become a major issue.

The population of Armstrong Creek is expected to almost double by 2040, and the suburb will ultimately be home to 55,000-65,000 people.

“It’s not surprising people jump into their cars,” he said, noting that Armstrong Creek residents often live “well over a kilometre” from the nearest bus route.

“That was the worry we had right from the start, that unless good public transport was instituted right from the get go, that people would just become car dependent.”

A Geelong Advertiser survey found more than half of the 152 responses, 61 per cent, supported both a bus network and a train station for Armstrong Creek.

Another 23 per cent voted just for a bus network, while five per cent voted for a train station.

Just 11 per cent of respondents said the area was fine solely relying on cars.

The state government’s Geelong line upgrade includes a provision for planning for the Armstrong Creek transit corridor.

Successive governments have commissioned reports on the corridor as early as 2014, with proposals including improved bus networks, light rail, a trackless tram and a rail service to Torquay that would split from the Geelong line at Marshall Station.

The transit corridor, which slices through residential areas, is one of G21’s priority projects.

However when asked, the state government was unable to provide any update on what stage the planning was at.

“It’s a bit of a unicorn, the corridor. It’s sort of there and it’s sort of not,” Mr Westcott said.

Originally published as Armstrong Creek bus upgrade in the works, questions remain over rail