The state government has announced more than 670 additional weekly bus services to run across Northern Rivers bus networks starting from 6 December, 2026.
The extra services will run on the Byron Bay, Ballina, Lismore and Casino networks, and will ‘improve public transport access to key destinations,’ including hospitals, university and TAFE campuses, as well as Ballina Byron Gateway Airport said a press release from Lismore MP Janelle Saffin.
This comes on the heels of Ballina Shire Mayor, and independent candidate for the seat of Ballina in the 2027 state election, Sharon Cadwallader, calling for ‘a radical new approach to public transport in the Northern Rivers’.
In response to the new bus services, Cr Cadwallader says she ‘welcomes the minister’s announcement’, but feels the decision was ‘a bit reckless’, lacking in transparency and detail regarding an integrated timetable.
‘To come out and make an announcement just because I decided to go on the front foot with it, and to make an announcement without the details, that’s a bit reckless in my books,’ she told The Echo.
Cr Cadwallader also said that community consultation was needed to understand ‘acceptable journey times, service frequency, and reliable connections.’
‘Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that we’ve had some traction. But there’s a lot more work to do, particularly with the community… you need to measure success by how useful the services are to the people who depend on them,’ she said.
Growing population
Minister for North Coast, Janelle Saffin says these plans will see ‘real, tangible benefits for local communities’ and the additional services will ensure public transport keeps pace with the Northern Rivers ‘continued growth and thriving visitor economy’.
‘We have listened to what our communities need… helping people stay connected to jobs, education, healthcare and the places they visit every day.’
Byron Shire Mayor, Sarah Ndiaye (Green), has also welcomed the new buses, saying ‘the decision was a win for people who have waited a long time to be heard’.
‘For years we have lobbied for this because so many people in our community have been isolated by the lack of public transport. When there is no reliable bus, our young people and our elderly depend heavily on family just to stay connected. It limits work, volunteering, recreation and, importantly, safety.’
Labor candidate for Ballina, and Byron Shire Councillor, Janet Swain, says she is making sure our ‘growing communities’ have more frequent access to the bus network ‘as more people move into the area.’
‘Public transport is one of the biggest issues that is raised with me by locals across the electorate. More bus services will mean more options for getting to work, heading into town, catching a flight or visiting family and friends,’ she said.
Additional buses
Under the changes, Byron Bay’s Route 640 will generally run hourly between Ballina Airport, Ballina and Byron Bay, a new Route 646 will cut 18 minutes off weekday trips between Ocean Shores and Brunswick Heads, more evening and weekend services will run from Lismore to Byron Bay, Ballina Airport and Mullumbimby. Epiq Marketplace in Lennox Head will have public bus service for the first time, and there will be more Route 670 trips between Kyogle, Casino and Lismore, linked to the 8.21am train to Sydney.
Greens candidate for Ballina, Mandy Nolan says the Northern Rivers region is ‘underserviced’ in the public transport sector and welcomes the announcement from state government, but says ‘it has to be available, and it has to be reliable’.
‘In order for public transport to become socialised within a community, the community has to trust that it’s reliable, and that it’s going to be continuous, and that will actually start to socialise our community into using public transport more,’ she says
Nolan raises particular concern over a lack of bus services connecting essential amenities, for example, routes from Mullumbimby and Byron to Kingscliff TAFE.
‘If you don’t drive in this region, you’re really disadvantaged when it comes to accessing health services or work or education and training… There’s been advocacy in our local community for over a decade to solve the public transport problem when it comes to getting people, for example, from Mullum and Byron to Kingscliff TAFE. There isn’t a bus service that takes anyone there. Doing that kind of work with the community, to find out what they need is important.’
It is understood that the NSW government has no plan to include a bus route to Kingscliff TAFE as part of this initiative.
These plans come as the NSW government announces 3,000 additional weekly bus services across the state, with Minister for Transport, John Graham saying ‘these improvements have been informed by extensive community consultation’.
‘We’ll continue listening to passengers as we work to deliver a better, more reliable bus network.’
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