Want a bus in Stonnington? Join the queue says government

Government

2 Mar 12 @ 05:00am by Nicole Cridland

Nick Hayward of Prahran is calling for the State Government to provide a school bus for students including Elliot and Ned. Picture: STEVEN CRABTREE N35MP804

STONNINGTON parents with children at Hawthorn Secondary College say a school bus is needed to help cut travel time.

But both education and transport departments say the existing network is sufficient.

Stonnington is the only municipality in Victoria without a co-educational state high school and Boroondara’s Hawthorn Secondary College is the closest option.

But parents and the school confirmed students were often late because of missed interchanges and overcrowding on some services.

Parent Nick Hayward said a school review on student travel completed last year showed a dedicated bus route was warranted.

“Stonnington parents are concerned about the negative effects on their children who are forced to travel outside the city to attend school,” Mr Hayward said.

“A school bus would in one stroke remove these disadvantages and give us parity to the rest of Victoria.”

State Liberal Prahran MP Clem Newton-Brown said a high school in the area would be a better resolution than a bus route.

But the $200,000 promised by the Baillieu State Government in the 2010 election for a feasibility study into the need for a high school in Prahran has still not been earmarked in the budget, meaning the reality is several years away.