State targets Moorabool for bus hub

Jessica Benton
GEELONG traders will have a bus depot outside their Moorabool Street shops if State Government’s Department of Transport has its way.
The department has recommended bus interchanges on either side of Moorabool Street in a study of City of Greater Geelong’s public transport system.
The department study favoured Moorabool Street for the interchanges rather than an alternative option to put the city’s new bus “hub” in Malop Street.
The department recommended a central bus stop on the west side of Moorabool Street between Ryrie and Little Malop streets. The recommended east-side interchange site was between Malop and Little Malop streets.
The interchange would be a drop-off and pick-up point linking services around the city with buses from the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast.
The Independent reported late last year that central Geelong traders had slammed plans to put the hub on the city’s busiest shopping strips. The traders feared damage to their businesses, saying either option would be a “disaster”.
The region’s public transport lobby group backed the interchange plan, saying it would put Geelong “in line” with interstate and international services.
State Government has an-nounced $80 million for the City’s bus services, including the interchange.
Geelong councillors voted this week to review the plan before deciding whether to support its recommendations.
Cr Bruce Harwood said the interchange project was a “sensitive…and a very in-depth issue”.
“I want council to be fully briefed on all of the issues before any decisions are made,” he said.