Residents of the IRT Peakhurst Retirement Village have been left scrambling to rearrange medical appointments, shopping trips and social outings following the cancellation their local bus service.

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

or signup to continue reading

Earlier this month, Transport Minister John Graham announced changes to Sector 10 bus services from June 21 affecting Hurstville, Oatley, Penshurst, Mortdale and Peakhurst.

"The most commonly expressed complaint I have seen is the cessation of the 944 bus route from June 21," Councillor Peter Mahoney said.

"The terminated 944 provided essential transport for those living in the large Peakhurst IRT retirement village who need safe and easy access to medical and other services in Mortdale, and who will now be forced to walk 750 metres or over 10 minutes in the weather to Lorraine Street," he said.

Tony Girdler, 84, said he can no longer get from his home in the retirement village on Forest Road down the the Riverwood shopping centre or to Mortdale for important appointments,

"We have been left living on a little island that has been cut off from everything we require," Tony said.

"About 20 or 30 people at the village have told me they now have problems getting out to do their grocery shopping or to see their GPs, finding a chemist or going on social outings," he said.

Tony used the 944 and 943 services to stay connected. He goes to Riverwood to do his shopping and to the chemist, and to Mortdale for medical appointments.

"I go to Penshurst to visit friends. It is important to maintain friends as you get older. Now we can't get down to the Riverwood shopping centre and rely on someone to give me a lift. I'm on a pension and so can't afford to take taxis every time I go out.

"There are about 200 people here aged in their 70s, 80s, 90s and some who are 100. To say we have to walk distances is quite an effort. A lot have to use walking sticks or walking frames and the terrain is hilly.

"I gave up driving almost 12 months ago because I was having trouble with my eyes. I am retired but I don't particularly want to give up altogether.

"I'm well and truly in a quarry about what else I can do except curl up my toes and die," he said.

Lyndon Mitchell, president of the IRT Peakhurst Retirement Village Residents Association, told the June 22 meeting of Georges River Council, "Our Aged Care residents, and there are 202 housed on site, are severely handicapped by the loss of Bus Service 944 in that our access to medical and other services in the Riverwood Central Business District, has been withdrawn.

"Many of our aged residents rely on Riverwood Medical Practitioners and Galluzzo's Pharmacy located in both the Shopping Mall and also on Belmore Road for their medications.

"Now that bus service 944 has been withdrawn, reasonably priced timely access, that is the Seniors Opal Card, to the services offered by the Riverwood CBD has been

"There has been no prior warning or opportunity to comment on these changes,

and we have received no communication from the Minister for Transport or his

Cr Elaina Anzellotti said the changes were not set in concrete but were being reviewed following feedback from the community.

"Since these changes were announced I've been in constant communication with the decision-makers and with the Minister's office, particularly over the 944 bus route. Every concern that residents have raised have been reported directly to those responsible for reviewing the proposed changes. Consultation is ongoing and feedback is actively being reviewed by Transport for NSW and it will continue to assess the impact of proposed changes and make adjustments where necessary," she said.

Member for Oatley, Mark Coure said the removal of Route 944 and its replacement with Route 956, has left many residents facing additional transfers and longer travel times.

"Residents at the IRT Nursing Village, for example, who previously relied on this service to get to doctors' appointments and the shops are now essentially cut off from public transport services," he said.

Mr Coure has launched a petition, calling on the NSW Labor Government to undertake a review of the changes.

Mr Coure's petition is available at:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSceg3SMZtvPquxNktSZDwMFZSlLxFZfUAP9flnRA2mNIKGXng/viewform