Groups want buses in Wellsford

Local community organisations concerned about the lack of public transport in the Wellsford area, are calling on Auckland Council to improve the situation by linking Puhoi, Warkworth and Wellsford to the existing Silverdale bus services.

Homebuilders Family Services coordinator Quentin Jukes says everyone in Wellsford is going to be paying the Regional Fuel Tax and they deserve a bus service like everyone else.

“We want to help Council and Auckland Transport make good decisions about how to use this new funding,” he says.

He adds that now the new motorway from Warkworth to Wellsford seems unlikely to go ahead, it’s even more important to get buses on that stretch of the road to help reduce congestion. “There is already talk of having a Park and Ride service in Warkworth, so it makes sense for the public transport to be extended to Wellsford to reduce traffic through the Dome Valley,” he says.

Te Ha Oranga O Ngati Whatua and the Rodney Women’s Centre are also backing the call.

Centre manager Colleen Julian says a service to Wellsford would benefit many people. This would include the elderly and teenagers wanting to head to the North Shore or the city, especially if they want to access training opportunities.

“There are lots of people who either can’t drive or would far prefer to travel by public transport. And we know lots of women who are isolated. For example, if they are in a one car family which leaves for work each day. For all these people, access to public transport is really important,” she says.  

Auckland Transport could not be reached for comment before Mahurangi Matters went to press.