"FIX OUR BUSES, FIX OUR BUSES."
That was the sound resonating from the thousand-strong crowd at the Belmont 16 Footers yesterday, as community members gathered to protest the new Newcastle bus network.
State Opposition Leader, Luke Foley joined Hunter MPs who addressed the crowd, calling for a state review of the privatised network.
The meeting represents a culmination of weeks of commuter complaints to network operator Keolis Downer, and hundreds of letters sent to the Transport Minister from Hunter MPs on behalf of disappointed constituents.
At the beginning of February, Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery made representations on behalf of Callaghan College students' families after the 870 service failed to pick up students from the school, leaving parents forced to leave work early to get their children.
Keolis Downer Operator Mark Dunlop said the incident was a one-off event and he'd apologised to Callaghan College officials, however, Ms Hornery said the 870 was just "one example of a broader issue with the Newcastle bus timetable."
Later in February, Newcastle MP Tim Crackanthorp described the network as "chaos," telling Transport Minister Andrew Constance that around 100 disabled workers at Hamilton's Access Industries are struggling to get to work after direct routes were cut from the timetable.
The fight headed to parliament last week, as a Notice of Motion initially moved in September last year was considered; however, debate swept off course as a number of MPs began discussing Sydney roads and railways.
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| Fix Our Buses: the crowd at Belmont 16 Footers raise placards calling out Andrew Constance. Image: Jodie Harrison MP. |
Last night's community meeting comes after Keolis Downer yesterday released new Opal card data, revealing promising results for "key routes."
High customer patronage was recorded on services in popular areas such as Charlestown, where the service to Queens Wharf recorded a 35% increase in patronage, while the Glendale to Newcastle service experienced a huge jump of 70% since new routes were introduced last month.
It's this high patronage which is being put forward as a sign of encouragement for Transport NSW, as the state government say it's too early to conduct a system-wide review.
That's the message coming from Keolis Downer too, as Mark Dunlop believes commuters need to allow time for the network to "settle" before casting aspersions on the system which has delivered 1200 extra services to Newcastle and Lake Macquarie residents.
No state government or Keolis Downer representatives were invited to the public meeting last night, and disgruntled community members chanted "FIX OUR BUSES" as Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald took to the stage.
He says it's disappointing both sides of the issue were not presented.
"I was disappointed not to be invited formally," Scot MacDonald said today, "I turned up after asking, and was eventually 'allowed' to go, so to speak," he said, "I also offered to bring a representative from Keolis Downer to the meeting- that offer was not taken up.
"I think that was a missed opportunity. We could've heard from the people who designed the routes and heard what they're trying to do, and of course they could have taken feedback.
"Nevertheless," Mr MacDonald continued, "I'm not going to criticise the room for being very forthright...people went to the trouble of attending the meeting so I respect that."
The Parliamentary Secretary said there was "a lot of emotion" at the meeting as personal stories were shared, and he's happy to have heard it.
"Look, we've got work to do," Mr MacDonald said, "There was a call for review and I think it's a little bit early for that- we're only 4 or 5 weeks into the new system, but I think it's a reasonable request to keep looking into this and perhaps have a revue further down the track."
"I've since had the opportunity to convey some of those feelings to our Transport Minister and Premier...this is just the start of it."
That's the message coming from Keolis Downer too, as Mark Dunlop believes commuters need to allow time for the network to "settle" before casting aspersions on the system which has delivered 1200 extra services to Newcastle and Lake Macquarie residents.
No state government or Keolis Downer representatives were invited to the public meeting last night, and disgruntled community members chanted "FIX OUR BUSES" as Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald took to the stage.
He says it's disappointing both sides of the issue were not presented.
"I was disappointed not to be invited formally," Scot MacDonald said today, "I turned up after asking, and was eventually 'allowed' to go, so to speak," he said, "I also offered to bring a representative from Keolis Downer to the meeting- that offer was not taken up.
"I think that was a missed opportunity. We could've heard from the people who designed the routes and heard what they're trying to do, and of course they could have taken feedback.
"Nevertheless," Mr MacDonald continued, "I'm not going to criticise the room for being very forthright...people went to the trouble of attending the meeting so I respect that."
The Parliamentary Secretary said there was "a lot of emotion" at the meeting as personal stories were shared, and he's happy to have heard it.
"Look, we've got work to do," Mr MacDonald said, "There was a call for review and I think it's a little bit early for that- we're only 4 or 5 weeks into the new system, but I think it's a reasonable request to keep looking into this and perhaps have a revue further down the track."
"I've since had the opportunity to convey some of those feelings to our Transport Minister and Premier...this is just the start of it."
