Since 1922 residents of the current state electorates of Willoughby and North Sydney have had been afforded a direct public transport link between Chatswood and Balmoral beach via Willoughby. Initially provided by the no 75 tram, this was continued by the 257 bus when the North Sydney Tram system was ripped up in 1958.

We understand that this bus service is to be discontinued and that commuters will in future have to use the 343 bus as far as Crows Nest and then change to the new 114 service for the second part of the journey to Balmoral Beach. Frequency details for the 114 are yet to be published but assuming a frequency similar to the 257 this will entail additional travel time of up to 30 minutes.

The 257 offers direct transport to and from a Number of High schools including Chatswood High, Willoughby Girls High, North Sydney Boys, Redlands, Mosman High and Queenwood. Students from these schools also use it to access study areas in Chatswood and Mosman Libraries. Many other schools will be affected by the reduction in services between Chatswood and Crows Nest.

The 257 provides a valuable transport alternative for poeple going to Balmoral Beach from Willoughby. For residents of Mosman it provides direct access to the Willoughby Leisure Center and netball court complex. On many occasions, these destinations experience serious parking and traffic congestion issues, making it difficult or impossible to access them by car.

In short, we find it difficult to understand why the NSW government would want to discontinue such important service and demand that it be retained rather than being extinguished in its 99th year. Further, we request that, in line with medium to high density development and population growth along the route, State Transit offer additional peak time express services, bypassing Crows Nest and using the Warringah Freeway between Military Road and Naremburn.