The Buloke Shire is located in the more rural, remote section of Victoria and is extremely isolated from outer regional and provincial cities.  As a result many people who do not drive have decreased access to various social and recreational activities, with very limited public transport services.

The Southern Mallee Transport Connections Partnership undertook a community consultation in 2009, in order to determine the actual need for people to travel to Bendigo on a Saturday.  A samply survey was conducted amongst the youth population in the townships of Woomelang, Birchip, Wycheproof and Charlton, and the results yielded widespread support for a trial bus service to Bendigo.

A New Bus Services Was Trialled

As a result of this survey, the Southern Mallee Transport Connections Partnership chartered a bus service between Woomelang and Bendigo, (via Birchip, Wycheproof and Charlton) on the first Saturday of each month, in order to further evaluate the community support for this type of transport service.  Since then the Department of Transport has undertaken a formal transport trial, providing the Saturday service in order to determine current patronage and the ongoing need to continue the service beyond the trial period. 

Passenger Numbers

The first service was launched on the 7th of November, 2009, and six passengers travelled to Bendigo.  Since then the numbers have steadily grown with an average of 18 people travelling each month in the 2010-21011 financial year.  The most people who have travelled on any given trip has been 37, and the fewest has been 6 (in January, 2011 which was due to a change in the calendar day of the service).

A passenger survey has been conducted in order to determine the demographics of the people using the service, and has revealed that many older people are also using the bus in order to travel to Bendigo for various social reasons, and that younger people were accessing the bus from as far away as Hopetoun.

The Future

The Department of Transport has recently reviewed the Saturday Monthly Trial Service, and the Southern Mallee Transport Connections Partnership (along with the many passengers from very isolated sections of the sub-region) are currently waiting on the outcome of this evaluation. 

In the meantime, the service continues to run, and the Partnership urges people of all ages to hop on the bus and enjoy a day in Bendigo once per month.

Please click on the following link for information regarding the timetable, bus stops, fares, timetables and other details....... woomelang - bendigo bus poster.pdf