The Allan Labor Government has given residents in Armstrong Creek, Charlemont and Torquay a new and improved bus network with around 100,000 more trips taken on the network since it was introduced in June last year.
The improved bus network doubled the number of local services and added new routes giving these growing communities fast and reliable bus services - delivering better access to jobs, education, shops and health facilities.
The new bus network provides better coverage and connections to key locations such as Torquay Beach, Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre, Deakin University, as well as Geelong or Marshall stations.
The bus network upgrade saw an extra 500 weekly bus services added, including the introduction of a new Route 53 service between Geelong and Torquay, a new Route 52 service between Marshall Station and Jan Juc and a new Route 54 service between Marshall Station and Torquay.
Links between Torquay, Armstrong Creek and Geelong were also strengthened with a regular and direct service to Moorabool Street, Geelong. The expanded network also saw increased evening and weekend hours of operation.
Local students are enjoying improvements to the local school bus network with more and better targeted coverage, including changes to services for Bellarine Secondary College and St Ignatius College.
Oberon High School is also getting more services including the existing Route 45 service linking Waurn Ponds and Armstrong Creek being extended to connect to the school.
These new services deliver on Victoria's Bus Plan, which aims to increase the number of people choosing to take the bus by delivering more frequent, direct and reliable services.
In recognition of the importance of buses in connecting communities, we have invested over $890 million and delivered more than 22,000 new bus services per week since 2014.
This includes $162 million invested in the 2025/26 Budget included for a review of the Geelong and Bellarine Peninsula regional town bus networks.
As stated by Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams
"We're providing better bus services to the Torquay, Charlemont and Armstrong Creek communities, and more V/Line services on the lines they connect with, giving residents and visitors more reasons to leave the car at home."
"We've given Victorians more than 22,000 extra bus services per week and added almost 500 extra train services across the Geelong and Warrnambool lines, whilst also making public transport more affordable".
As stated by Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney
"This is a real win for our growing Armstrong Creek, Charlemont and Surf Coast communities - locals are getting the bus services they deserve, with more reliable connections to schools, shopping centres, health services, as well as V/Line services."
"These upgrades are making it easier for people to get where they need to go, whether it's into town, off to work, or out to enjoy different parts our region."
