Wayne Mountjoy and Brad Sanders are at cross-purposes in the best possible way with the new Healesville-Yarra Junction bus service.By Kath Gannaway
THE launch of the Healesville-Yarra Junction bus service yesterday (Monday) is ground-breaking in more ways than one.
More than a decade of reports, surveys and requests from residents on both sides of the valley have flagged a need for a cross-valley bus service. The trial service put in place by Yarra Ranges Transport Connect Project is the first practical step towards achieving that.
The other first is Martyrs and McKenzie’s bus services working together across their contracted regions, Upper Yarra and Healesville, respectively, to provide the infrastructure. “This form of collaboration between two private operators is a first for Victoria,” said YRTCP spokerson Kaz McKay.
The new service will provide two round trips between Healesville and Yarra Junction via Woori Yallock on weekdays between 9am and 3pm.
Martyrs managing director Wayne Mountjoy and McKenzie’s general manager Brad Sanders are keen to see the trial succeed and, hopefully, expand.
“This service is something that people have told us they want for a long time and that has been verified and taken further by the people at Yarra Ranges Transport Connect,” Mr Mountjoy said.
Mr Sanders said: “Now that it’s actually here, it would be disappointing if it was not used. It’s future will be decided on patronage.”
People are urged to use the service and while organisers acknowledge the pilot timetable is limited, they have said that if it proved popular there was a real possibility it could be extended when the pilot was completed.
Mr Sanders said the timetable had been designed to connect with, and make best use of, other bus services. “You can go across the valley from Yarra Glen to Yarra Junction and on to Warburton by connecting up with the existing services,” he said.
Further information on the service is available from McKenzie’s on 5962 5088 and Martyrs on 5966 2035.
