By Matthew Sims
Pakenham bus users would soon have more options to get around town, thanks to two new extensions to services coming into effect.
Public and Active Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams visited Pakenham on Wednesday 22 May to announce Pakenham would receive new and extended services on routes 925 and 928, thanks to $180 million worth of investments in the 2024-25 State Budget 2024/25 and the Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC) fund.
Part of the funding announced would help extend Route 925 from Pakenham Station to Lakeside via The Avenue and ending in Cardinia Road Station, while Route 928 would be extended to run from Pakenham Station to Cardinia Road Station via Webster Way and Henry Road and then connecting to Berwick Station via Rix Road.
The new GAIC funding would also help extend Route 798 to Clyde North via Hardys Road, while Casey Council would also receive part of close to $22 million in funding towards projects which would build and improve more walking and cycling paths and deliver better connections to stations and bus services.
Pakenham MP Emma Vulin the new routes would help link people to key destinations across the South East.
“We’re giving our communities more transport options – whether that’s through better buses, or improved cycling and walking paths,” she said.
Public and Active Transport Minister Gabrielle Williams said the new and extended routes allowed for more frequent connections to other bus services and train services.
“We’re delivering better and more frequent public transport in our fastest growing suburbs, giving passengers more bus services and transport links with trains,” she said.
“These service improvements are another example of how Victoria’s Bus Plan is delivering a new bus network that makes travelling by bus easier and more convenient.”
Introduced in 2010, the GAIC fund is a one-off contribution payable by landowners and developers for essential infrastructure development in growth areas of Cardinia, Casey, Hume, Melton, Mitchell, Whittlesea and Wyndham.
