Party bus service to run between Ballarat and Buninyong

LATE-night revellers in Ballarat’s CBD will be able to avoid long queues at taxi ranks on New Year’s Eve as a new bus service gets underway. Local “party bus” operator Wayne Gunn has received a permit to operate a new bus line between Ballarat and Buninyong and will launch the service at the end of the year. Running between 11pm and 5am Tuesday to Sunday, Mr Gunn also plans to introduce stops around Ballarat. “We’ve got 50-odd taxis in the city and a lot of people trying to get home in the early hours,” Mr Gunn said. “That’s why there are such long lines, and let’s face it — no one wants to be waiting for ages to get a taxi.” The Wayne’s Special Events Bus service will operate from two vehicles and utilise existing public bus stops between the corner of Sturt and Lydiard streets and the centre of Buninyong.

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Passengers will be charged $15 for a one-way ticket, with credit card and eftpos facilities available onboard. Mr Gunn said security and water bottles will also be provided to passengers. “We’ve got the support of the Department of Transport, Davis Bus Lines, Victoria Police and a lot of the local nightclubs, so I think it will be a success,” he said. “My staff will look after young ladies who are getting off the bus around groups of men late at night and make sure they can get to their homes safely.”Ballarat Police Inspector Bruce Thomas welcomed the new bus service.Mr Thomas said he hoped it would help curb problems related to drunken behaviour at the Lydiard Street Safe City Taxi Rank.“If people have had a few drinks and are queuing up at the Safe City Taxi Rank, it can cause a few problems,” he said.“Anything that gets people away from the CBD and to their homes can only be a good thing.”Ballarat Taxis chairman Stephen Armstrong said his organisation would have a full fleet of vehicles on the streets during the Christmas and New Year period. “It will be no different to what people expect on Friday and Saturday nights, but mid-week, during the Christmas party period, we will have more cars on the road,” he said. He advised passengers to book ahead, and be ready to give staff correct information on pick-up and drop-off locations and the number of passengers. “Be ready to go when you call for a cab, as we might be just around the corner,” Mr Armstrong said.“I would advise people to be patient when waiting on taxi ranks, knowing that a lot of people will be out into the early hours.”Follow @ballaratcourier