By Corey Everitt
A win for Kaduna Park residents, the 925 bus will soon run through Officer South to connect many more to the public transport network.
Pakenham MP Emma Vulin announced that the extended route will operate from 23 March.
“When I was campaigning in 2022 and doorknocking in Kaduna Park estate, the overwhelming message I received was that you needed public transport to access schools, shops and services,” Vulin said in a facebook post.
“I heard your voices and acted.”
Currently the 925 runs between Pakenham Station and Lakeside. This extension will have buses running down Cardinia Road and into Kaduna Park Estate.
Most of all, the bus will stop at Cardinia Road Station allowing quicker access to trains for residents in both Kaduna Park and Lakeside.
The route will continue its hourly schedule, seven days a week.
The 925 will stop at the Kaduna Park playground. The loop through Botanic Drive and Arbour Rise will be removed as the bus will continue through Eventide Rise in Lakeside toward the station.
The Botanic Drive terminus/Arbour Rise stop and Eventide Rise/Botanic Drive stop will be removed. Passengers can use the alternative stops of The Circuit/Eventide Rise or Darwin Way/Botanic Drive.
While the rail network has been significantly upgraded in Pakenham, bus services have been a significant last step in fully connecting residents to the network.
Previously, Vulin has raised the need for expanded networks in Parliament and directly to the Minister for Transport.
For a considerable time, Cardinia Shire Council has also called for an expanded bus network.
According to the council’s liveability plan, 33 percent of households in Cardinia are located within 400m of a bus stop. Only 8.3% of households have access to a regular 30-minute weekday service.
The extension of the 925 route was announced last year as part of a $22 million injection by the State Government to Cardinia’s bus services.
This funding is also going to the extension of the 928 route which currently runs between Pakenham and Cardinia Road Station.
