The Minns Labor Government is continuing to strengthen the services that regional communities and local students need and deserve, with improved bus services on the way for schools across the Hunter Valley.
The improved services come after extensive community feedback from families in The Vintage Estate, Pokolbin, who will benefit from a newly added bus stop on Vintage Drive before Claret Ash Drive.
The upgrade to local services is vital to support this growing community, delivering safer, more convenient travel for local students.
These critical changes will remove the need for students to catch buses along McDonalds Road, making school trips easier and safer.
Service improvements are also being made in response to growing demand in Huntlee, Branxton and Gillieston Heights. These include new coverage for North Branxton, Radford Estate and Rusty Lane, additional services for St Philip's Christian College and Gillieston Public School, and timetable adjustments for Cessnock High School to better align with peak school travel times.
Students attending Mount View High School, St Patrick's Primary School, Nulkaba Public School, Cessnock High School, Cessnock Public School, Cessnock East Public School, Cessnock West Public School, St Philip's Christian College, Gillieston Public School and Hunter Valley Grammar School will all benefit from these improvements.
Transport for NSW and the operator, Rover Coaches, are working closely with schools and parents to ensure communities are aware of the updated services.
Existing routes and timetables may change, and students and families are encouraged to plan their journeys at https://transportnsw.info
Minister for the Hunter, Yasmin Catley said:
"These improvements are a win for local kids and families.
"Better bus connections mean safer and more reliable travel for students right across the Hunter Valley. It is all about giving regional communities the services they need."
Minister for Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison said:
"These updates form part of the Minns Government's ongoing commitment to improving public transport connections for regional communities. These changes will make it easier for families to ensure that their children can travel to and from school safely and on time.
"We know from community feedback that some previous services didn't align with school bell times, which created challenges for students and parents. These adjustments will fix that.
"We've acted to improve connectivity, convenience, and safety for residents. As the local population grows, our goal is to make travel smoother, safer, and more reliable for everyone."
Member for Cessnock, Clayton Barr said:
"This is a terrific outcome for families in Cessnock and our surrounding suburbs. Parents have been clear about what they need and the Minns Labor Government has listened. These upgrades will make the school run safer, easier and far more reliable.
"Cessnock and the Hunter region is growing quickly, and our school transport must keep up.
"These changes mean more coverage, better timing and safer options for our kids. Families have been asking for this for years and I am thrilled to see it delivered."
