GAWLER bus commuters will see no changes to local services later this year, after public outcry saw the State Government scrap its controversial overhaul of Adelaide’s bus system.

Transport minister Stephan Knoll released his plans to reform metropolitan Adelaide’s bus system a fortnight ago, promising faster and more frequent services.

On Monday though, he and Premier Steven Marshall announced the State Government had canned the plans after fierce backlash from commuters and a targeted campaign by the opposition.

In Gawler, the proposed reforms suggested cutting the 491, 492 and 495 bus routes, which connect Willaston, Hewett and Gawler East to the centre of the town.

These routes were to be replaced with an upgraded on-demand service which would have covered as far north as Roseworthy and far south as Evanston South and Evanston Gardens.

Gawler would also have seen 57 bus stops removed across the town, mainly in Gawler East, Willaston and Hewett, as the move to the on-demand service was made.

Member for Light Tony Piccolo said the now-cancelled cuts would have had a disproportionate effect on students and the elderly.

“The cuts would have had a devastating effect on people in the community where public transport is their only travel option,” he said.

“For many people, and these are often our most vulnerable, they don’t have any alternative, and cutting bus services would create greater social isolation in our community.

“We must hold them accountable for their absurd decision and let them know that we will not stand for our government stripping the public of one of its most crucial services.”

A hallmark of the bus reforms in the north was to establish a number of “connector” bus routes which took commuters to the Gawler rail line to head towards Adelaide.

As a result, the 228 bus route, from Smithfield to Adelaide, was proposed to be cut and replaced with a connector service from Elizabeth to Mawson Lakes.

It was initially announced the reforms would see around 500 bus stops cut across Adelaide, but Mr Knoll was forced to concede last week that number was actually around 1000.

The State Government’s backflip came after the transport minister told The Bunyip on Friday the overhaul would be a win for Gawler and guaranteed an improved on-demand service would be a major upgrade to the existing system.

On Monday, Mr Knoll conceded it was “very clear” the public wanted no changes to bus routes.

“We’ve been saying every day and often, until we’re blue in the face, that these changes were out for consultation,” he said.

“As a good government, we’re listening to the feedback the people have provided us and are not going to proceed with those changes.

“It’s very clear people want to see the existing routes continue and as a government we’re going to listen to that advice and to that feedback.

“This reform is part of a broader suite of reforms in public transport that we’re achieving for the people of South Australia.”

Public consultation on the bus changes was set to end on July 31, but Mr Knoll said he had already received “thousands” of responses from the community.

The changes were also opposed by Liberal MPs, including Member for King Paula Leuthen, who resides in the most marginal electorate in the state.

Mr Marshall said while the bus reforms had been scrapped, further changes to public transport were still on the cards.

“The public transport users in South Australia have made it abundantly clear that they do not want to see any changes to the bus routes in South Australia,” he said.

Therefore, cabinet has formed an opinion and we announce today we will not be proceeding with the proposed bus route changes in South Australia.

“(It) doesn’t mean we won’t be proceeding with upgrades to public transport in South Australia. As I’m sure most people would be aware, since coming to government we have announced very significant upgrades to public transport here in our state – almost $1 billion of upgrades.”