Few would draw inspiration from the former Soviet Union for a blueprint of suburban life in Australia, but there is one architectural marvel that could set a design benchmark for western Sydney: bus shelters.
Shadow minister for environment Jacqui Munro believes the bus shelters, which became pockets of artistic rebellion against state control, could inspire the design of future western Sydney bus stops to offer not just shade, but a sense of community pride.
“It would be up to councils to engage in that kind of process, but being proud of our local environment is really important, [from] having a sense of place and to having a sense of community,” she said.
Photographs taken by Christopher Herwig and documented in a series of two books called Soviet Bus Stops show that the Soviet-era bus shelters, many of which have now been removed, reflected the community they were made for – featuring everything from vibrant colours and mosaics, to structures resembling traditional hats, birds and a lightbulb. It’s a far cry from the often shadeless bus stops scattered across western Sydney.
The design potential of bus shelters is timely: last week, temperatures in parts of western Sydney reached more than 40 degrees and then rain soaked the region in the days that followed.
In December, the Herald reported that 75 per cent of bus stops lack shelters in the Blacktown City Council LGA. Advocacy organisation Sweltering Cities revealed in 2024 that only 30 per cent of bus stops in Penrith had shelter, shade and a seat – compared to 66 per cent in Sydney’s inner west.
With more hot and wet days ahead, the opposition is backing calls from Sweltering Cities for the state government to put $20 million towards building about 2000 shelters in western Sydney.
“Western Sydney is bursting at the seams in some places, and it’s rapidly growing in many places. That means that appropriate infrastructure needs to be delivered not tomorrow; it needs to be delivered today,” Munro said.
“[Bus shelters are] such an easy thing to deliver to councils that would make so much of a difference to millions of people across greater western Sydney.”
The state government decides where bus stops are located and the provision of bus shelters is the council’s responsibility. Blacktown Mayor Brad Bunting previously said a single bus shelter could cost up to $30,000.
The government said it would fund the delivery of some bus shelters in western Sydney, but would not reveal the exact amount. A spokesman said more detail would emerge in coming weeks.
Transport Minister John Graham said: “Bus passengers need protection from heat, sun and rain, which is why we are working with western Sydney councils to identify and install new bus shelters.
“The former government had three terms in office to improve life for western Sydney bus users, but never funded bus stops or bought a single bendy-bus. Cherry-picking a large number from a report they didn’t write shows little has changed in that regard.”
The Sydney Morning Herald has a bureau in the heart of Parramatta. Email parramatta@smh.com.au with news tips.
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