By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
AN ENDEAVOUR Hills community which wants its local bus service to include a nearby shopping centre as a stop on its regular route is set to have its voice heard in State Parliament.
More than 300 residents have signed a petition, calling on the government to make changes to the 843 bus route from Dandenong to Endeavour Hills which would allow the bus to stop at the Endeavour Hills Shopping Centre.
Endeavour Hills resident Anne Boyes, who suffers from a disability, spent an entire day walking through the shopping centre to gather signatures for the petition and was overwhelmed by the positive response.
She said it was extremely difficult for her to walk up and back along the hilly Mossgiel Park Drive to the shopping centre, and felt she would benefit considerably if she could catch a bus home.
“I walked the whole of Endeavour Hills Shopping Centre from 10am to 5pm to get signatures and only had a quick break,” Ms Boyes said.
“I went to all the shops and asked shop keepers to see if they were interested in signing a petition to bring more businesses to the shopping centre, as well as to help the elderly and people who can’t walk the steep hill.
“If I had to continue, it would make my knees a lot worse and my health a lot worse; it would mean I have to resort to a taxi up and back. At the moment, I’m walking up the hill and catching a taxi back home.”
Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan, who will soon present the petition to parliament, said the change to the bus service would increase access for Mossgiel Park residents to the broader public transport system and also allow them easier access to local shops and services.
“If the route went through the shopping centre, residents would have greater access to banks, shops and services like the Endeavour Hills library and sports centre,” he said.
The 304-signature petition also calls for additional bus stops to be introduced along Mossgiel Park Drive and Shetland Street in Endeavour Hills.
