New School Bus Services Helping Ballarat Students
More students will be able to catch a school bus next year as the Andrews Labor Government rolls out the first in a suite of additional school bus services across the state, including Ballarat.
A new school bus service being introduced in 2023 will link Cardigan Village and Lucas with Lucas Primary School and Ballarat High School for the first-time making access to school easier for primary and secondary-aged students in these growing areas.
The two schools are among the first to benefit from extra school bus services announced today as part a $25 million investment funded in the Victorian Budget 2022/23 to introduce, modify and extend school bus services across the state, with a focus on growth areas.
A four-year program, the additional services will initially target recently opened schools in growth areas where student demand is high and school bus services can be introduced, expanded or rerouted to take in these locations.
In the first phase, 14 schools in metropolitan and regional areas will get a new or improved school bus services.
The initiative is part of the Labor Government’s $109 million investment announced in the Victorian Budget 2022/23 to improve local bus services in growing areas and further puts into action Victoria’s Bus Plan to meet demand, enhance accessibility and performance, and deliver value for money for all passengers.
New services under the initiative will be rolled out over the next 24 months with most new services to start in time for the 2024 school year.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll
“We’re giving Victorians parents and students better access to school bus services in the regional and metropolitan growth areas where there is high demand, and they are needed most.”
“Through Victoria’s Bus Plan we’re delivering a modern, productive, environmentally sustainable bus network that increases the number of people choosing to take the bus.”
Quote attributable to Member for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford
“These extra services recognise the demand for more school bus services to support students and parents in Lucas and Cardigan Village, providing better access to their schools.”
Quote attributable to Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison
Extra school buses for families living in Cardigan Village and Lucas will be most welcomed. The school drop off can be a real challenge for many families, and we’re pleased to be providing better access to Lucas Primary School and Ballarat High School.