Goulburn Mulwaree Council purchases new community bus

The new Toyota bus replaces the 2001 vehicle which a council spokesperson said had driven more than 350,000km and had "seen better days." The new bus will be used to continue delivering programs and services provided to the council's Neighbour Aid, Leisure Link and Youth Services clients.

The council recently missed out on My Community project funding for a second bus. It applied for $113,437 to purchase a 24-seat vehicle, given what corporate services director Brendan Hollands said was growing demand.

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Meantime, Cr Sam Rowland last month successfully called for investigations into the viability of the council operating a community transport service, in addition to that provided by Valmar.

"This issue is so important for so many vulnerable people in the community," he said.

"There is only one service provider and I sense that there is demand for an additional service."

Cr Rowland said one of the most "heartbreaking" aspects of his work as a solicitor was encountering elderly people who had been forced to give up their licence.

"(A licence and a car) gives them access to supermarkets, family and social outlets and when they lose their licence, they lose their independence," he said.

"...I think there is a gap in services. We have a lot of elderly people in our community and I think it warrants further investigation."

A report to councillors stated that costs "far exceeded" the funding provided when the council ran the service from 1993 until 2013, when it handed it back to Transport for NSW.

Corporate services director Brendan Hollands said it was initially fully funded and participating councils expected there would be no cost to them. But this was not the case by 2013.

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Wheels keep on turning for community transport

Costs put brakes on transport service

By 2012 there were six buses used for the service and, amid confusion about their ownership, it was confirmed that only four of these were funded on an ongoing basis by Tansport for NSW. Mr Hollands said it meant that the council would have to fund replacement of the other two.

"As a result of these concerns and the failure of Transport for NSW to agree to provide additional funding, the council ceased auspicing the program on March 1, 2013," Mr Hollands wrote in his report.

The service was handed back to Home Care, as were two funded buses and two cars.

One of the two remaining buses has since been sold. The other has just been replaced.

Mr Hollands said Valmar's contract expired in June, 2020 and providers would have to reapply. But Transport for NSW had indicated they saw no reason why Valmar's contract wouldn't be extended to June, 2020.

It had also advised that two contracts for the same area wouldn't be provided, meaning the council would have to fund any service itself if it proceeded in the way Cr Rowland's suggested.

A report on its viability will come back to councillors at their October 22 meeting.

In August, they endorsed formation of a 'community transport service working party.' Cr Rowland and Cr Margaret O'Neill are members, along with the council general manager Warwick Bennett or his nominee. The council also called for expressions of interest for two community members. These closed on September 20. The working party's membership will also be decided on October 22.

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