The New South Wales government has announced a new service will be delivered for south west Sydney following seven years of local campaigning.

Following the campaigning, the member for Campbelltown has a delivered the service to the community of Macarthur Heights, which was first established in 2013 without any public transport options.

This change from July 5, when the new 849 route will connect residents with Macarthur Station, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown TAFE, Campbelltown Hospital and Macarthur Square, forms part of the state government’s delivery of increased bus services across south west and western Sydney.

“Whether it’s public transport, roads, schools or hospitals, our government is working to make sure communities living in new housing areas have all the basic services you expect in a world class city,” deputy Premier and Western Sydney minister Prue Car says.

“Better bus services mean better access to opportunity and stronger connections for communities across Western Sydney.”

The service will run every 30 minutes between 6am and 10pm, seven days a week.

In nearby Menangle and Menangle Park, the 889 service, which previously only ran up to 12 times a day for six days a week, will become a seven day per week service with additional 83 trips per week.

On July 5, the new 849 and the increased 889 services will begin service alongside the five brand new bus routes connecting Campbelltown (845), Liverpool (825), Leppington (860), Mount Druitt (772) and Penrith (790) with the new Western Sydney Airport.

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Route 840 between Campbelltown and Oran Park will also be improved to operate every 30 minutes across the week and extended to Leppington, replacing route 858. The state government says these bus services will end public transport deserts for many of these Southwest communities.

In addition to brand new routes, the state government is also restoring routes that were axed by the former government and it says have been “sorely missed” by communites. On June 21, the M52 bus route will be restored between Parramatta and the CBD via Ryde, and in April the 301 was restored between Roseberry and Eastgardens.

These new routes will be funded by the $452 million commitment in the 2025–26 budget to expand bus services in Sydney’s outer suburbs and regional growth areas, including south-west Sydney.

The state government says since coming to office in March 2023 it has delivered 1,357 additional new weekly services across Greater Sydney, a reduced driver shortage from 500 down to 165 and ordered 923 new buses.

“Greg Warren has been a tireless campaigner for the Macarthur Heights community. He pushed the Liberal government to give them a bus service, and when they refused, he made sure our government delivered it,” NSW transport minister John Graham sas.

“It’s not fair that some communities get public transport and others don’t. Transport needs to be a fundamental part of the plan for growing communities.

“The new Macarthur Heights service and the five new airport routes will connect communities with jobs, education and health services right across this fast-growing part of Sydney.”

Transit Systems NSW will run the services for the local communities.

“We’re delighted to bring these new and expanded services to South West Sydney. Connecting communities like Macarthur Heights to jobs, education and healthcare is exactly why we do what we do,” Transit Systems NSW managing director Rino Matarazzo says.

“Transit Systems is proud to work alongside the Minns government to deliver these vital services, and from July 5, residents will have reliable, frequent public transport they deserve.”

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