Fresh angst over changes to regional bus services

Community concern has prompted the State Government to review another regional bus route earmarked for change – before it has been implemented.

Planned changes to the Hobart to West Coast bus service are under reviewasmanian Metro bus commuters in Hobart picture of a Tassielink in Murray st leaving for Dover

COMMUNITY concern has prompted the State Government to review another regional bus route earmarked for change.

The Department of State Growth said the new West Coast bus service — to replace one which travels from Hobart, through Hamilton and Lake St Clair to Queenstown — was being reviewed before it was implemented.

Tassie Link plans to stop its Hobart-West Coast service on March 10.

West Coast residents will then have to travel to Burnie before connecting to Launceston and then Hobart.

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TassieLink said the new North-West hub service had been trialled and proved more popular than the other connection.

A new Area Connect service has been introduced for those wanting to travel to Hamilton and Lake St Clair, but that service runs only two days a week.

“The Hobart to West Coast bus is used by a lot of people including walkers from the Overland Track,” a Huon Valley resident said.

“Then there are the people from the West Coast who will have to travel up to the North-West and then Launceston to get to Hobart in the future — a much longer trip.”

The current bus service is used by many Overland Track walkers. Picture: Chris Crerar/Parks Tasmania

A Department of State Growth spokesman said the new West Coast service was being reviewed before it is implemented because of concerns raised about the new route.

“Given concerns that have been raised by some stakeholders about the new route, over the next week State Growth will conduct a further review of the changes before any implementation,” the spokesman said.

“We will continue to listen to community views about the new services and will make adjustments where necessary.”

The department said the new Area Connect service had been introduced to allow passengers from Hamilton and Ouse (as well as Ellendale and Glenora) to travel to Hobart and back in the same day.

However, those who want to stay a few days will need to stay a week to catch the next service back.

“The Department has consulted closely with the community on this Area Connect service to ensure it will best meet community needs. Public forums have been held in Ellendale, Glenora and Hamilton, and these services are based on the significant work undertaken by TasCoss with the community in this area,” the spokesman said.

The concerns about the West Coast service follow community protest in New Norfolk and a back down on changes to bus services in the Huon Valley until next year.