Almost 1500 residents have opposed plans to scrap a Deer Park to Sunshine bus route.
Christine Sahasrara and Renee Mathers are behind a campaign to save the 451 bus before it is scrapped in July.
Public Transport Victoria (PTV) plans to cull the 451 service, which travels between Brimbank shopping centre and Sunshine railway station via Ardeer, replacing it with a 420 service from Sunshine station to Watergardens shopping centre. PTV will also introduce route 423, which will run from Brimbank shopping centre to Ginifer train station, and route 427, which will run along Forrest Street in Ardeer.
Watergardens shopping centre and train station are already serviced by seven bus routes.
A total of 1476 people have signed a petition urging PTV to keep route 451.
Ms Sahasrara said Watergardens did not need another bus.
“There’s a lot of people who are relying on the buses,’’ she said. ‘‘[Transport Minister] Terry Mulder says that it’s been properly investigated, but it hasn’t.”
Kororoit Labor MP Marlene Kairouz has tabled the petition in State Parliament, saying the changes would make the journey more complex and inconvenient. “The elderly rely on this service to get from their house in Deer Park to the community hub of Sunshine where their doctor is, where they do their shopping, where they socialise,” she said.
PTV spokeswoman Helen Witton said the changes would provide more direct and frequent services on key routes and better connection with trains. “Most Brimbank residents will receive a far better public transport service and more people will have access to a bus service.”
