News

12 March 2025

UPDATE ON WARRINGAH’S BUS SERVICES

I welcome today’s announcement by the NSW Government of 50 new articulated buses and 10 B-line double-decker buses to support public transport services across the Northern Beaches and North Shore. This is long overdue and a positive step in addressing the serious shortfall in capacity that has left commuters waiting in long queues and impacted students, workers and families.

The planned rollout of zero-emission buses over the next 12 months is great. Transitioning to a cleaner, low-emissions public transport system is vital as we look to future-proof our network and reduce our environmental impact.

This announcement is a welcome step forward, but there is much more to do. I will continue to advocate for a reliable, efficient and climate-friendly transport system that meets the needs of Warringah — now and into the future.

Last year, I hosted a Warringah Transport and Traffic Forum alongside the State Member for Wakehurst, Michael Regan, bringing together key stakeholders including Keolis Downer and representatives from the NSW Government. Since then, I’ve continued to engage directly with transport operators to raise community concerns about service reliability, overcrowding, cancellations and long wait times.

This week I met with Jay Zmijewski, Chief Operating Officer of Keolis Downer, to discuss ongoing service challenges and identify key barriers to improvement. A critical issue raised is the shortage of bus drivers — a growing concern that is undermining service delivery. I will be engaging with the Federal Government on workforce solutions to better support driver recruitment and retention, particularly in regions like the Northern Beaches.

Our message has been clear: we need more services, more drivers, and long-term solutions. The shortage of bus drivers must be addressed urgently, and those working in the sector need to feel supported and valued by the community and government alike.

I commend the strong and persistent advocacy of my State colleagues Michael Regan, member for Wakehurst and Jacqui Scruby, member for Pittwater. Their work demonstrates the real outcomes independent representatives can achieve when we work together with the community’s interests at heart.

But as I’ve said before, there is no quick fix. I continue to push State and Federal Governments to commit to $20 million in joint funding for road infrastructure upgrades — particularly at the Pittwater and Warringah Road intersection — as recommended in the Northern Beaches Network Review. We need a plan b now that both Coalition and Labor state governments have sidelined the Beaches Link Tunnel project, to keep addressing traffic congestion.