MT Eliza residents have expressed frustration over recent changes to bus services, saying improvements in other areas of the peninsula have come at the expense of services relied on by older residents.
Mt Eliza Village resident Maureen Piper relies on buses every day. She said she was disappointed to learn there was no longer a direct service from the village to the Barkly St shopping area in Mornington.
“We fought long and hard for better services and these have just been taken away,” said Piper.
“How can anyone call this action progress? I am sad and angry. It is unjust.”
Route 788 continues to provide a direct service to The Bays Hospital, but Piper said the lack of direct connection means older passengers are now having to walk long distances.
She said there was now only one suitable service an hour to Barkly St, which goes a longer route around Mornington Park, and that she has been “terrified” by the behaviour of some travellers.
Piper’s concerns have prompted Mornington MP Chris Crewther to write to Victorian Deputy Premier and Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams and ask for a review of the changes.
Crewther noted he has consistently advocated for improved and additional bus services in areas such as Peninsula Grange, Beleura Village, Racecourse Grange, and the new Hastings to Mornington service.
He said these improvements should not have to come at the expense of existing services being reduced or removed.
“My advocacy has consistently been for additional and improved bus services across the Mornington Peninsula,” said Crewther.
“Public transport improvements should expand the network, not simply move existing services from one community to another or reduce services.”
Crewther has asked Williams to direct the Department of Transport and Planning to review the Mt Eliza changes and consult with affected residents to consider restoring a regular service.
He has also asked for an explanation as to what consultation was undertaken prior to changes being made, and how the needs of older passengers were assessed.
Government spokesperson Ruby Wallace provided the following response, requesting it be attributed to a “Victorian government spokesperson”:
“We’ve improved bus services in the Mornington Peninsula, giving the community better access to jobs, education, medical facilities and shops in the area.”
“We’re providing faster journeys between Mornington, Frankston, Dromana and Mount Eliza including longer operating hours during the week and extra weekend services.”
First published in the Mornington News – 4 August 2026
