At least 50 glass bus shelters across Brimbank and Melton have been smashed in the past month, according to a resident.
Delahey Action Group president David Anderson told Star Weekly he had reported at least 50 damaged shelters in the past month to Adshel, which is contracted to maintain them.
The shelters were in Delahey, Taylors Hill, Caroline Springs, Sydenham, Taylors Lakes and Kings Park, and included multiple breakages in Copperfield Drive, Taylors Road, Hume Drive and Overton Lea Boulevard.
“That doesn’t include what other people have reported,” Mr Anderson said.
Sydenham resident Karol said she was unpleasantly surprised by the number of smashed glass bus shelters in the area, and called on Adshel to replace the glass with mesh or another material.
Karol chased the matter up with Public Transport Victoria, which owns the shelters, questioning how the organisation could waste taxpayer money by using a company that continued to replace the glass.
In a reply seen by Star Weekly, Public Transport Victoria customer complaints officer Megan Edwards said Adshel was contracted to replace the glass no matter how many times it was broken.
Ms Edwards said “the shelters and their maintenance is completely free to the taxpayer, as we earn money from the advertising on a third of the shelters that pays for all of the roll-out of new shelters and the maintenance of all shelters”.
Keilor MP Natalie Hutchins, who has also lodged complaints with Adshel, said vandalism to bus shelters in the area had been an ongoing issue. “But to have this many smashed in the course of a few weeks is pretty outrageous,” Ms Hutchins said.
“My office has reported the same one, on the corner of Sunshine Avenue and the Melton Highway, at least four or five times. It’s a bus shelter that Catholic Regional College students use.”
Adshel did not respond to Star Weekly’s request for comment before deadline.
To report vandalism of bus shelters, phone 1800 501 402.
