Tuesday, 19 February 2019
Inner West Council has called on Transport for NSW to explain why changes to the 444 and 445 bus services have resulted in these services no longer travelling to Darling Street Wharf in East Balmain.
The move comes after Transport for NSW recently issued notices to residents on the Balmain peninsula stating that the 444 and 445 bus services will no longer terminate at the East Balmain wharf.
Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne says Transport for NSW have been short-sighted terminating the routes at Balmain’s Gladstone Park, more than a kilometre uphill from the ferry wharf.
“These bus services have, until now, run the entire length of Darling Street, from Lilyfield to the Darling Street Wharf.
“The changes to the route have made it more difficult for people to visit our area and for pensioners and commuters to get around,” he said
“This is another example of Transport Minister Andrew Constance’s disdain for the people of the Inner West.
“In the past year, he has been terrible with trains; couldn’t name a ferry, was hopeless with share bikes, privatised our bus services and he is now forcing families, commuters and the elderly to walk more than a kilometre to get a boat into the city,” said Mayor Byrne.
In 2013, the NSW Government closed the Balmain West ferry wharf, which serviced thousands of residents, including a large public housing estate with many residents who have mobility issues.
There has been major investment to improve bus and ferry infrastructure at East Balmain ferry wharf over the past few years.
The wharf was made two-sided to allow for increased public transport activity at this wharf, making it the only two-sided wharf with a bus connection on the Balmain peninsula.
“Downgrading public transport at the third most highly used wharf outside those in the CBD is both short-sighted and mean spirited,” said Mayor Byrne.
“Commuters are saying they have to wait at stops for long periods only to see one bus after the other, bearing not-in-service signs, zoom pass them. It’s frustrating and unacceptable for peninsula passengers to be treated like second-class citizens.
“Andrew Constance should put aside his ideological war with the Inner West, reconsider these ridiculous cuts to bus routes and get on with the job of serving the people of NSW.”
For further information, please contact John Roper on 0435 963 787.