Mary Valley Passenger Transport Report
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MMAARRYY VVAALLLLEEYY PPAASSSSEENNGGEERR TTRRAANNSSPPOORRTT RREEPPOORRTT Page | 1 October 2008 Mary Valley Show Society Inc Acknowledgements, thanks and report availability The Mary Valley Passenger Transport Study was an initiative of the Mary Valley Show Society Inc and generously funded by the Queensland Government’s Blue Print for the Bush ‘Our Place Our Future’ Program. The report was prepared by Laurel Johnson for the Show Society. Page | 2 Many thanks to the Project Steering Committee including: Roger Hogg (Mary Valley Show Society Inc) Kaili Parker-Price (Mary Valley Show Society Inc) Marie Hensley (Department of Communities) Kim Bowditch (Mary Valley Show Society Inc) Jane Roberts (Community Futures Task Force) Ken Cluff (Queensland Transport) and Cathy Kennedy (Queensland Transport) Thanks also to the many community leaders and service providers who informed the study including: Judy Kenworthy Ann O’Donnell Carol Cordell Arnold Henzel Jan Watt Flo Vickery Neil Mahoney Helen Grogan Julie Worth Jeff Worth Steven Smith Elaine Bradley Steve Burgess Penny Ford Michael Morgan Bill Teniusson Copies of the report can be obtained from the Mary Valley Show Society Inc. Cover photo: Tour de Valley created by the Mary Valley Primary schools for the Scarecrow Festival Contents Introduction ............................................................................................. 5 School buses ...................................................................................... 32 Page | 3 The Approach ..................................................................................... 5 Taxi services ....................................................................................... 33 Key Findings ......................................................................................... 6 Cycling ................................................................................................ 33 Strategies .............................................................................................. 6 Addressing transport disadvantage in the Mary Valley ........... 35 Study Area ............................................................................................... 9 Scholarly Literature on Transport Disadvantage ..................... 35 Transport Demand in the Mary Valley ........................................... 14 Improving transport outcomes for older people and those with mobility issues in the Mary Valley ........................................ 36 Older residents and residents with mobility issues .................. 14 Improving transport outcomes for young people in the Mary Veterans ............................................................................................. 16 Valley ................................................................................................... 36 Young people ................................................................................... 16 Improving public transport in small communities ................... 38 Journeys to Work .............................................................................. 20 Providing community based transport services ...................... 39 Local and visiting services ............................................................. 22 Coordinating transport services and resources ...................... 41 Sub-Regional Transport Services in the Mary Valley .................. 26 Addressing the impacts of increasing fuel costs ..................... 42 Rail services ........................................................................................ 26 Promoting passenger transport services and subsidies ......... 44 Long distance bus services ........................................................... 28 Promoting Passenger Transport Services ................................... 44 Scheduled air services .................................................................... 30 Utilising Technology ......................................................................... 47 Public transport services ................................................................ 31 Strategies to improve passenger transport and mobility in the Mary Valley ............................................................................................ 49 Definitions ............................................................................................... 52 Page | 4 References ............................................................................................. 53 Attachment 1 Mary Valley Informant Interviews ....................... 54 Attachment 2 Dagun and District Questionnaire ..................... 57 Attachment 3 Mary Valley College Student Focus Group ..... 59 Attachment 4 Government Subsidies for Passengers .............. 60 Attachment 5 Youth Transport Services and Initiatives ............ 61 Introduction The Mary Valley Passenger Transport Study was commissioned goods and services. For example, neighbours and family by the Mary Valley Show Society Inc with the support of the members may have moved and this has affected the car Page | 5 Queensland Government’s Blueprint for the Bush ‘Our Place Our sharing, car pooling, general private transport sharing that has Future’ program. This report presents the findings of the study previously been evident in the Mary Valley communities. including strategies for enhancing passenger transport services and mobility in the Mary Valley. There are currently no contracted taxi services or regular commuter bus services (other than school buses) to Gympie or The announcement of the proposed Traveston Crossing Dam on Cooroy and consequently there are limited public transport the Mary River has mobilised the Mary Valley communities to connections to larger service centres and regional passenger consider the future of their area. A recurring theme identified in transport networks. future planning endeavours is the need for improved passenger transport services for the Mary Valley. The Approach Community Futures Task Force consultations in September 2006 The study employed a range of methods including: indicated that passenger transport was an issue for older residents. Interviews with key informants (See Attachment 1 for details) The recent Mary Valley Business Expansion and Retention A survey of northern residents of the Mary Valley (Dagun and (MVBEAR) program report (Parker-Price, 2008:23) affirms that district) Attachment 2 is a copy of the Questionnaire public transport limits business and training opportunities. Review of literature (scholarly, comparative research, Transport needs are a major factor in many aspects of operating Queensland Transport and passenger transport information, successful business ventures in this area...improved transport options Environmental Impact Statement for the Traveston Crossing Dam) specifically within the Mary Valley were identified as useful for the transportation of employees (Parker-Price, 2008:23). Analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2006 Census data A focus group with young Mary Valley residents (Mary Valley There is anecdotal evidence that one of the unintended College year 7-10 students, see Attachment 3 for details) consequences of the proposal to develop the Traveston Crossing Dam in the Mary Valley has been a breakdown of social To assist the reader, definitions are included at Page 54 of the networks that assist the transport disadvantaged to access report. Key Findings The area has a number of transport providers (school service and The key finding is that there is unmet need for passenger charter operators) with a commitment to the local community transport services for individuals and groups in the Mary Valley and a willingness to invest in expanded passenger transport services. and that local transport resources can be mobilised to meet this Page | 6 unmet need with relatively modest Government funding support 1. Strategies The unmet need pertains primarily to those residents with a Six strategies have been identified to improve passenger disability, without access to private vehicles (too young or too transport and mobility in the Mary Valley to deliver an equitable old to drive) or the resources to fund private transport (lower level of service for the Mary Valley communities. Some strategies socio-economic households, Mary Valley College, youth groups have more than one action. and other groups) including: 1. BROOLOO TO GYMPIE WEEK DAY BUS SERVICE Residents with a disability (162 or 4% of Mary Valley residents report needing assistance with core activities Introduce a Government subsidised week day bus service due to a disability including assistance with mobility) from Brooloo to Gympie. The week day service could be an Young people (students aged 5-17 years are 771 or 21% of expansion of the current school bus service (Route S314) to residents and 361 or 11% of residents are aged between assure availability of seats for public passengers and to 12 and 17 years (the pre-licensed ages desiring operate during school holidays. By expanding the independent travel) operation of the school bus service to school holidays, the Government will fund the additional cost of a school Older people (406 or 10% of residents are aged over 65 holiday service and not the total cost of a public transport years) service. Community members experiencing socio-economic Expand the route of the Brooloo to Gympie school bus disadvantage (19% of Mary Valley households reported service (Route S314) to better serve the main communities