By Kate Bonsack
HOBSONS Bay City Council has written to the Department of Transport to request a meeting to resolve continuing issues with bus route 415 in Altona.
Altona Ward councillor Tony Briffa put forward the motion at last Tuesday night’s ordinary council meeting so the department could have an opportunity to hear the problems some residents have had with the bus service.
Since the Williamstown-Laverton 415 route was extended last June to include Cobham St, Bell Ave and Kookaburra St, it had been met with opposition from several residents.
Members from the Altona Bird Cage Residents Association have been against the extended route because of safety issues, but residents from the Port Phillip Retirement Village in Stewart Ave support the extension.
Cr Briffa’s carried motion enacted the council last week to write to the Department of Transport, requesting that it meet three delegates of the Altona Bird Cage Residents Group, three local residents supportive of the bus service, relevant council officers, the state MP for Altona and the Altona Ward councillor.
Cr Briffa said he had received several calls from residents concerned about the bus service and he wanted the department to hear about the issues.
“The service is owned by the Department of Transport, so the council can’t do anything about the route,” he said.
“I think the department needs to liaise with the residents and review the frequency of the service.”
Councillors at last week’s ordinary council meeting also carried a motion to endorse the proposal by the Department of Transport to improve bus facilities at the Altona Railway Station, so the new 903 Smartbus and the 415 bus could stop there instead of on Blyth St.
“This will change the bus interchange in Altona,” Cr Briffa said.
“It would be moved from Blyth St to adjacent the railway station, making it easier for people to connect with other public transport.”
