After years of persistent complaints from families, school bus services across the Hunter Valley are finally being upgraded to better serve the region's growing student population.
Addressing Long-Standing Community Concerns
The improvements will directly benefit ten schools in the Cessnock area, specifically designed to meet increasing demand in the rapidly expanding suburbs of Huntlee, Branxton and Gillieston Heights. The changes come as the massive $1.5 billion Huntlee estate, planned to eventually house 20,000 residents, continues its development.
Cessnock MP Clayton Barr acknowledged that parents had been vocal about their needs. "Parents have been clear about what they need," Mr Barr stated. "Cessnock and the Hunter region are growing quickly, and our school transport must keep up."
He emphasised that the upgrades would translate to more coverage, better timing and safer options for children travelling to and from school, delivering on a service families had been requesting for years.
Specific Service Improvements and Timetable Changes
NSW Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison, who is also the Maitland MP, confirmed the changes would resolve alignment issues between bus schedules and school bell times. "We know from community feedback that some previous services didn't align with school bell times," Ms Aitchison said, noting this had created significant challenges.
The practical improvements include removing the need for students to catch buses along McDonalds Road through the wineries area. Buses will also provide enhanced coverage for Radford Park and Rusty Lane in northern Branxton.
Additional dedicated services will be added for St Philip's Christian College and Gillieston Public School, while timetable adjustments for Cessnock High School will better synchronise with peak school travel periods.
Broader Context of Educational Expansion
This transport overhaul coincides with major educational infrastructure projects in the region. The area, including Branxton and North Rothbury, is one of the Hunter's fastest-growing corridors.
To accommodate this growth, plans are advancing for a new high school, primary school and public preschool at North Rothbury, scheduled to open in 2028 for up to 1500 students. The public preschool will offer places for 120 children each week.
These developments follow the ongoing redevelopment of Gillieston Public School, which will see all 24 demountable classrooms replaced with 32 permanent classrooms and three support classrooms by early 2027. This upgrade will increase the school's permanent capacity by more than 650 students, addressing past issues that included a lack of connection to the main sewerage line and inadequate boundary fencing.
Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley hailed the combined efforts, declaring "these improvements are a win for local kids and families."
The complete list of schools benefiting from the improved bus services are: Mount View High School, St Patrick's Primary School, Nulkaba Public School, Cessnock High School, Cessnock Public School, Cessnock East Public School, Cessnock West Public School, St Philip's Christian College, Gillieston Public School and Hunter Valley Grammar School.
