Infrastructure Minister moves to fix southern Tasmanian bus services shake-up

Southern Tasmanians have been asked to give the new bus network a chance as the State Government works with communities to address their concerns.

Infrastructure Minister Jeremy Rockliff with Metro Tasmania CEO Megan Morse. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

SOUTHERN Tasmanians have been asked to give the new bus network a chance as the State Government works with communities to address their concerns.

As a result of feedback received from the Derwent Valley in the past week, including from a packed public meeting on Monday, an additional dedicated school bus will leave from New Norfolk central at 7.15am after running through Fairview from Monday.

The new school-only service will run direct via the highway to Friends, Elizabeth College, St Marys College, St Michaels Collegiate, Hutchins and Mount Carmel.

The return service will depart Hutchins at 3.35pm and pick up Hutchins, Mount Carmel, Collegiate, Lambert School and Friends School students before travelling direct to New Norfolk.

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In a move to improve travel time for general commuters, the current 7.17am bus from New Norfolk will now run as a “super express service” to the Glenorchy Interchange via the Brooker Highway, and then straight on to the city via the Brooker Highway and Campbell Street.

It will no longer detour through Claremont or pick up people along the Brooker Highway.

Infrastructure Minister Jeremy Rockliff said State Growth is also working to determine whether the peak hour return service at either 5.06pm or 5.50pm from Hobart to New Norfolk should be a super express.

The changes to bus routes and timetables came after the first detailed review of public transport in a decade.

Hundreds of commuters have complained that the State Government ruined what was previously a working system, but Mr Rockcliff said the aim was to provide better bus services which more accurately reflected the needs of local communities now and into the future.

“The changes are designed to provide better access to employment, education and services. They also pave the way for the introduction of a single integrated statewide transport network and a common ticketing system,” he said.

“With such a massive undertaking it was inevitable that some changes would need further work and adjustment to get them right, which we are committed to doing.

“I recognise the challenges that can arise with the implementation of new services.

“I encourage Tasmanians to give the new services a chance, keep catching the bus and take advantage of our growing public transport system.”

Labor infrastructure spokesman David O’Byrne said the Derwent Valley wasn’t the only problem hot spot, with his office receiving complaints from commuters in Sorell, Lauderdale, South Arm and the Huon Valley.

“Why did it take weeks of complaints and a large public protest for them to act?” Mr O’Byrne said.

“They were warned and only waited until it blew up in their faces. What about all the other communities that are affected? This ad hoc approach shows that after 18 months of delay in implementing the network changes it is still a joke.”