To help contain the spread of Covid, the NSW Government has reduced the frequency of public transport with most services now operating on a Sunday timetable.
However, Ms Mihailuk said with many local bus services non-operational on Sundays, this has resulted in elderly and vulnerable residents left without access to necessary public transport routes.
Among the services affected is Bus Route 911 (Auburn to Bankstown via Georges Hall), a route which is heavily relied on by residents in Georges Hall to attend medical appointments and to shop for necessities in Bankstown. Residents in Sefton are also experiencing cuts to their service and have been without access to any alternate transport.
Ms Mihailuk has called on the Government to reinstate the services.
“If the NSW Government isn’t prepared to deliver essentials to people’s home then they must reinstate these bus services urgently,” she said.
Chester Hill resident Anthony Stahl was furious that the 911 bus service between Bankstown and Auburn was not operating on Monday.
“After the Premier said public transport would operate to a Sunday service timetable during lockdown, the (911 bus) service was cancelled altogether as it never runs on a Sunday,” he said.
“Wouldn’t you think they would have the wisdom to say, reduce the number of daily runs, not cut it out altogether and disadvantage hundreds of residents who use that service every week to get to the shops and medical appointments.”
Bus operator Transdev says they are passing on all complaints to Transport NSW. “We are awaiting further instructions,” a spokesperson said.
