The South Australian Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) has proposed a number of changes within the New Public Transport Network and is currently seeking community consultation until 31 July. Among these changes, the Oakden community will be disproportionately affected.

The Oakden community, from residents to friends, calls on the Marshall Government to review the proposed amalgamation of bus route 208 into the planned route 5, which will leave the majority of the Oakden community without viable public transport options. The closest public transport options in the New Network for the Oakden community will be in neighbouring suburbs at the Gilles Plains and Northgate Shopping Centres, route 4 and 5 respectively.

These changes pose significant accessibility risks for commuters with mobility issues, in a suburb with a higher-than-average median age and elderly population. Additionally, these shopping centres are not Park 'n' Ride locations, so commuters unable to walk these 20-minute distances will be parking further away at Paradise or Klemzig Interchange, in the unlikely case that public transport is still used by this community after these changes. Overall, this is likely to increase greenhouse gas emissions within the community as Australia lags behind in electric vehicle affordability and use alongside renewable energy production to power these electric vehicles.

This petition acknowledges local support Oakden resident Nita Drake received on Nextdoor when proposing bus route 208 should be optimised for Oakden commuters, having route 206 service Northgate instead. Unfortunately, this post was also where many of the residents using the platform became aware that they would no longer be getting the same level of service they had come to expect at the bare minimum following the implementation of the New Network. Thank you to Councillor Matt Osborne for bringing this to the community's attention. If the Oakden community will no longer receive the same standard of public transport it has come to expect, we petition the Marshall Government to at least provide a demand-responsive bus service.

The signatories of this petition also express concern for the job security of route 208 bus drivers among other affected routes. Back in 2017, these very same drivers had to strike for better work conditions from a former bus provider. These are drivers who worked hard for their rights and have had to continue driving as essential workers during COVID-19 ⁠— they deserve secure employment. Lastly, we note that, as unemployment rises, public jobs and works are needed more than ever before.

This petition will be sent out to the Hon Stephan Knoll MP (the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government and the Minister for Planning) to consider our community's concerns, and will ask for Hon Dana Wortley MP of Torrens' support and advocacy in parliament.

You can also have your say in the Adelaide Metro's New Bus Network Survey, conducted by McGregor Tan market research agency, until 31 July.