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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 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 ’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 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 earning less than $350.00 per week and 4% of households of the Mary Valley (, Kandanga and ) by had no motor vehicle in 2006). introducing town ‘loops’. These town loops add approximately 2 kms to the Brooloo to Gympie trip but would promote the bus service and access most houses in 1 The Hinterland Connect Bus Service costs the State Government $200 000.00 per annum for a scheduled passenger transport service for a comparable population the towns. catchment in the vicinity of the Mary Valley. The Mary Valley strategies in this report are costed at a maximum of $50 000.00 per annum.

2. A SATURDAY BUS TO THE BEACH account for funds and to identify any patterns of travel that indicate demand for a public transport service.  Trial (for 6 months) a Saturday public transport service from Amamoor to Cooroy via Carters Ridge which connects with  Establish and fund a Mary Valley transport coordination the Noosa to Cooran via Cooroy and Pomona (route 632) service that links passengers and potential passengers with Page | 7 public bus service from Cooroy to the Sunshine Coast. The transport options and transport information for local and service would offer student and pensioner discounts and sub-regional passenger transport services including health would be promoted through the Mary Valley College and transport. This service will also link learner drivers to youth groups. volunteer experienced driver mentors and their vehicles as a local resource for young learners. The transport coordination service will operate the Mary Valley transport 3. RESOURCE THE MARY VALLEY PASSENGERS fund.  Establish a locally managed recurrent transport fund ($10,000 – $20,000 per annum) that resources the Mary 4. PROMOTE PASSENGER TRANSPORT SERVICES Valley communities for subsidised travel in organised groups (such as school groups, Safe and Confident Living  Undertake an all household and business mail-out. The participants, the Country Women’s Association, youth mail-out will provide information about the available local groups and young people, sporting teams and other and sub-regional passenger transport services, booking incorporated and unincorporated groups). The fund requirements and subsidies in a creative, simple format. manager could also issue cab charges to cover the full The same information will be made available in the local costs of transport in some circumstances (such as for media such as websites (imbil.net.au and others), the young people to travel home safely in the evenings from Mary Valley Voice (quarterly advertising), in the Imbil Gympie and Cooroy, after events). The fund would be library and Kandanga Information Centre and at real administered by a local incorporated organisation such as estate agents and regularly presented at the Mary Valley Mary Valley Inc and the fund management would publish College, Youth and Seniors Groups. funding guidelines (criteria for funding, funding limits,

passenger contributions, eligibility and administration).  Ensure the consistent and creative branding of bus shelters The fund manager would report annually to the funding (similar to the Queensland Transport and source (preferably Queensland Transport) to acquit and Translink initiatives that have developed a consistent ‘look’

to shelters and bus stops east of the and in Mary Valley (comparable to the Tin Can Bay, Rainbow South East Queensland Beach and Maleny services).

 Provide branded bus stops and bright paint on the curbs in the towns promoting the expanded local bus service 6. SUPPORT CYCLING Page | 8

 Where possible, ensure that bus stops comply with the  Invest in infrastructure to support cycling and walking Disability Discrimination Act 1992 around and between towns (cycle ways and lockable bicycle storage facilities in towns and at bus stops)  Provide secure timetables and booking information at all bus shelters and bus stops in the Mary Valley

5. EQUITABLE TRANSPORT FUNDING

 Apply the taxi subsidy scheme to the Splash Bus and other similar flexible passenger transport services that may develop in the Mary Valley.

 Review the taxi subsidy scheme for non-urban areas and increase the upper limit (from $25.00) to reflect the high cost of taxi travel in these communities with no contracted taxi service

 Reduce the long distance passenger rail service fares to align with the City Train fares for passengers travelling from and to Cooroy and Gympie North railway stations from City Train stations (including ).

 Queensland Transport to investigate the feasibility of introducing an exempt taxi service contract area for the

Study Area

The Mary Valley comprises a number of small rural settlements located in proximity to the north-south Mary Valley Highway. For Page | 9 the purpose of this study, the Mary Valley is defined as encompassing the area from Dagun in the north to Brooloo in the south and Carters Ridge to the east.

The communities are:  Dagun  Amamoor  Kandanga  Imbil  Carters Ridge  Bollier  Brooloo

Map 1 shows the Mary Valley study area and indicates:  the location of the Mary Valley communities and  distances between the communities and the major service centres of Gympie, Cooroy and

Page | 10

Map 1

Mary Valley Study Area

Mary Valley characteristics Carters Ridge

Table 1 presents a selection of the characteristics of the Mary Carters Ridge is located east of the Mary Valley Highway and Valley communities. These characteristics are intended to the Mary River. The community is a recent rural residential Page | 11 describe the communities in terms of passenger transport settlement that lacks the services of the other settlements. It is demand and transport services. The characteristics are also a community that would be impacted by the Traveston households without vehicles, young and older residents and non- Crossing Dam with anecdotal evidence of community disruption working residents. These community members typically demand as people have already left the area in anticipation of the passenger transport services. development of the dam.

The information in Table 1 is sourced from the ABS Census 2006 The Carters Ridge community relates strongly to Cooroy (rather data and key informant interviews (for Dagun information). than Gympie). Cooroy is the closest sub-regional centre. There are 2 school buses that travel 27kms from Carters Ridge to Photo 1 is taken at Brooloo and shows the distances between schools in Cooroy on school days. There is no other passenger the Mary Valley communities on the Mary Valley Highway and transport in Carters Ridge though the Imbil based Splash Bus Gympie. service will transport Carters Ridge passengers.

Dagun Photo 1: Mary Valley highway signage The Dagun community in the northern area of the Mary Valley is located 14.5kms from Gympie. The area is rural and rural residential with a small Primary School, railway station and a community of approximately 50-60 dispersed households. Due to the small residential population, Australian Bureau of Statistics data is not available for Dagun.

A household survey was distributed through the Dagun Post Office to collect household and transport information about the Dagun community. Ten (10) responses were received (representing a valid 16.7% sample or 10 out of 60 households).

The questionnaire is attachment 2 of this report. The survey • Bollier (148 households) results revealed: • Brooloo (117 households) • an average household size of 2.6 persons Page | 12 • all respondents drove to work (one also caught the school bus) or worked at home on their property These communities are connected by the Mary Valley Highway that acts as the spine of the Mary Valley. • no respondent had used the Thursday Shopper or the Splash Bus (most did not know about either the Thursday Shopper Map 1 and Table 1 present information about each of the Mary Bus or the Splash Bus) Valley communities.

• 3 out of the 10 households (30%) had household members aged under 16 years

• 3 out of the 10 households (30%) had household members aged over 65 years

• Most respondents who drove to work, worked in Gympie

• If they didn’t have access to private transport, most respondents would get a lift with someone or stay home, one respondent would use the school bus

• One respondent is 2kms from the school bus stop and would need to drive to the school bus stop to use that service

The other communities in the Mary Valley transport study are:

• Amamoor (426 households)

• Kandanga (228 households)

• Imbil (307 households)

Table 1: Selected characteristics of Mary Valley communities 2006 Characteristics Dagun Amamoor Kandanga Imbil Carters Bollier Brooloo MARY (District) (District) (District) Ridge VALLEY Population 180 1178 596 799 415 410 334 3912 Page | 13 local knowledge

Number of 60 426 228 307 149 148 117 1435 households local knowledge

Number of n/a 8 21 18 3 0 8 58 households with no 4% Car

Workers who drive or n/a 95% 90% 83% 96% 96% 90% 92% are driven to work

Workers who catch a n/a 3 4 0 0 0 0 7 bus to work

Residents >15 years n/a 327 189 254 126 103 95 1094 and not in workforce 32% 39% 40% 40% 34% 37% 37%

Young People (12-17 n/a 126 50 63 46 56 20 361 years) 11% 8% 8% 11% 14% 6% 9%

School aged n/a 265 94 152 100 100 60 771 children (5-17 years) 22% 16% 19% 24% 24% 18% 21%

Older people (over n/a 134 84 104 42 17 25 406 65 years) 11% 14% 13% 10% 4% 8% 10%

To Gympie (kms) 14.5 19.3 28.8 40.5 34 32 40.7 n/a

To Cooroy (kms) 32 34 36 36 27 25 35 n/a

School bus service Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Most areas to Gympie to Gympie to Gympie to Gympie to Cooroy to Imbil, to Gympie then Gympie

Shoppers Bus (Thurs) Y Y Y Y N N Y Most areas

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006 Census of Population and Housing Due to its small size, ABS data is not available for Dagun

Transport Demand in the Mary Valley

Older residents and residents with mobility issues Local transport services available to older Mary Valley residents are: Page | 14 Table 1 shows that 10% or 406 Mary Valley residents are over 65  School buses years of age.  High steps and the wait time in Gympie for the return Further interrogation of the area’s age profile reveals that 132 service at 3.00pm can limit the effectiveness of school (4%) of the residents of the Mary Valley are over the age of 75 buses for this group. years and that these residents are fairly evenly represented at 4%  Discounted travel is available for seniors card holders of the population of each town. The greatest concentration of travelling with the Karrabee service) older residents (over 75 years) is in Imbil (43) and Amamoor (40).  Thursday Shoppers’ Bus

There is anecdotal evidence that to maintain independence,  High steps and a long day for some older people. some older residents of the Mary Valley (those over 75 years)  Discounted travel is available for seniors card holders drive their private vehicles in the local towns and there are some  Splash Bus safety concerns for these drivers and others.  High cost of travel at $1.70 per km could be a limitation, Queensland Health (2004) indicates that most Queenslanders though the disability friendly small 11 seater vehicle may be live in good health until shortly before they die. It is the older age comfortable for older passengers with impaired mobility. groups (those over 75 years) that have a greater number of  Route, destination and availability are relatively flexible. acute illnesses as well as greater functional, behavioural, social  Other charter services and economic needs than those aged up to 75 years  Safe and Confident Living Program organises day trips for (Queensland Health, 2004, Older People :1). This older age group Mary Valley seniors. is most likely to need assistance with mobility and to require  Passengers pay the full cost of their travel. assisted passenger transport.

The ABS data for Mary Valley indicates that 29 (22%) Mary Valley residents over 75 years of age reported the need for assistance with core activities (including mobility).

 Jessie Witham Centre Photo 2: Disability friendly, demand responsive Splash Bus  Centrecare service in Gympie travels to the Mary Valley to transport clients from their home to the day centre and return on Tuesdays. The service can negotiate other travel Page | 15 around Gympie with Mary Valley clients on the Tuesday that they attend the Day Centre such as visits to the Gympie Hospital, shops and other places. Clients must be Home and Community Care (HACC) eligible.

 Gympie Golden City Taxis  Will transport residents from the Mary Valley to Gympie and other destinations. The fare from Imbil to Gympie is $74.00 for a taxi and $109.00 for a maxi taxi (can carry 2 wheelchairs and 10 passengers)

Photo 2 shows the ‘Splash Bus’, a disability friendly, demand responsive 11 seater bus service based in Imbil and servicing the Mary Valley.

For travel outside of the Mary Valley, issues pensioners with four free one-way vouchers a year for the travel train services (this includes the long distance train services through Gympie on the North Coast railway line detailed in Table 6).

The Mary Valley Meals on Wheels currently has 12 clients. While Young people the number can vary, the service averages 12 clients (Interview Mary Valley Meals on Wheels). Meals on Wheels’ clients are one Table 1 shows 771 (21%) of residents of the Mary Valley are indication of the number of frail aged and disabled Mary Valley school aged (5-17 years of age). Page | 16 residents and hence indicates possible demand for a disability friendly, fully demand responsive transport service (taxis are an The Mary Valley school bus services carry both primary and example of a fully demand responsive door to door transport secondary school students. The Mary Valley College reports service where the passenger can prescribe the route, the declining enrolments with many secondary school students destination and the time of travel). choosing Gympie schools and travelling to Gympie in private transport and on school buses. Another indication of mobility difficulties is the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006 Census data that includes information on ‘core The Karrabee Bus and Coach school bus service is the main bus activity need for assistance’ by age and sex for the Mary Valley service travelling the Mary Valley from Brooloo to Gympie. That communities. The census shows that 162 Mary Valley residents service reports that more secondary students (state school and indicate they need assistance with core activities (core activities private school) travel to Gympie schools than the Mary Valley are grouped as self-care, mobility and communication). Of these College (P-10 school). Table 2 shows the number of eligible and 162 people (representing 4% of the Mary Valley population) paying secondary school students and the distribution of private many (70 residents) are middle aged (45-64 years). and state school students travelling to Gympie from the Mary Valley.

Veterans Table 2: Secondary School Students Travelling on school buses from Mary Valley to Gympie, 2008 Veterans are entitled to subsidised travel to attend approved medical appointments. Totally and permanently disabled war School Eligible Secondary Secondary Students Fare Total Type Students travelling to Paying travelling to state Students veterans are eligible for limited free train travel vouchers. Attended nearest school school of choice Veterans in the Mary Valley report that the veterans transport State 61 39 100 service will book and pay for the costs of taxi travel from home to School hospital and medical appointments and return (including Private 12 16 28 Brisbane Hospitals). School

TOTALS 83 55 138 Source: Karrabee Bus and Coach Records

Table 2 indicates that there are 55 students electing to attend a While reliance on private transport to access education, Gympie State High School and paying the school bus fare employment, socialisation and entertainment is common for accordingly. This indicates demand for passenger transport from young people, the long distances and limited range of the Mary Valley to Gympie State Secondary Schools on school destinations for young people in the Mary Valley positions this Page | 17 days. community for passenger transport solutions such as:

The Karrabee Bus and Coach Company is meeting the demand Transport coordinator to link young people to passenger for transport from Mary Valley students attending secondary transport schools in Gympie. With modest Government funding (to be Mary Valley Transport Fund to subsidise the transport of young negotiated, but estimated at $20 000.00 per annum), the people (in school groups, youth groups or other groups) to company could increase the capacity of this service to provide events and activities seats for public passengers travelling from the Mary Valley to Gympie, including on school holidays. Photo 3: Mary Valley College The Mary Valley College (Photo 3) is a Prep-Year 10 State School in Imbil with steadily declining enrolments. Students at Mary Valley College reported getting lifts with their parents as being key to meeting their transport needs (outside of school bus transport) including travel to:  Sports events and training  Part-time employment in the Mary Valley and Gympie  Friends houses in the Mary Valley.

It is clear that there is a significant reliance on private vehicles for young people’s socialisation and entertainment. In addition, the availability of school bus seats on each school day despite the full subscription of some school buses indicates that students are being privately transported to schools in Gympie and Cooroy (often catching the bus home from school) (Interview, bus operator, Dagun).

General community Table 3: Characteristics of the Mary Valley Communities Table 3 provides some insights into the characteristics of the six and Cooloola Shire, 2006 most populace communities of the Mary Valley compared to Town % Not in Degree or Average Median Page | 18 the same characteristics for Cooloola Shire (at the time of the Workforce Higher Househo ld Income Age 2006 Census). (gross, weekly) Amamoor 326 7% $718 40 Socio-economic disadvantage can correlate with transport 36% disadvantage as those communities and individuals with less Kandanga 190 6% $698 41 personal resources are generally least able to secure reliable, 40% affordable transport and are most reliant on passenger transport Bollier 113 5% $766 40 services to meet daily needs. In locations where passenger 35% transport is inadequate, the socio-economic disadvantage is exacerbated (Dodson, et al, 2004). Carters Ridge 126 6% $767 42 40% The Imbil Post Master reports (face to face interview, Imbil Post Imbil 258 6% $594 43 Master) that up to 12 people fax their Centrelink forms as they 41% have no means of private transport to lodge their forms in person Brooloo 111 5% $658 42 at Centrelink in Gympie. 43%

Mary Valley 1124 6% $700 41 39% Cooloola 4902 7% $696 41 Shire 35%

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006 Census of Population and Housing

Health-related transport The Gympie Hospital is 40kms from the southern area of the Mary Valley (Brooloo is 40kms from Gympie) and offers a range of The Queensland Ambulance Service provides non-emergency services including: medical transport for eligible patients to safely travel to medical  Palliative care Page | 19 appointments. Eligibility is assessed by the patient’s doctor (GP or hospital based) who provides the patient with a booking form.  Chemotherapy For Mary Valley residents, a Queensland Ambulance Service  Maternity passenger transport vehicle will transport them for free (if they  Surgery unit are a Queensland resident) to attend the medical appointment.  Paediatric unit The limitations of the service are:  Accident and Emergency service (24 hours) and others.  Strict eligibility criteria (patient must be disfigured or require stretcher transport or be otherwise unable to travel The most common reasons for admission to the Gympie Hospital on standard passenger transport) for all patients in 2005/2006 were chemotherapy and chest pain (Queensland Health, 2008, diagnosis related groups data).  The service operates from Gympie and the drivers commence work at 8.00am so, Mary Valley residents can The main referral hospitals for the Gympie Hospital are the Royal be late for early medical appointments Brisbane and Women’s Hospitals at Herston, Brisbane (180kms)  The service is not individualised and patients must wait for and the Nambour Hospital (80kms). Patients transferred from the last patient in the vehicle to complete their medical Gympie to these hospitals or needing to attend these more appointment before the return journey commences distant hospitals for specialised treatment are eligible for Government funding support for travel and accommodation  The service needs to be booked 48 hours before the time expenses (for information on the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme of travel. refer Attachment 4).

Emergency response There were 40 or 4% of employed residents who reported travelling to work by ‘truck’ in the Mary Valley compared to 3% The Gympie Ambulance Station at Alfred Street includes the for the total Cooloola Shire (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006). Mary Valley in its service catchment for emergency response. While it is unlikely that Mary Valley residents who commute to Page | 20 Imbil First Responders work will forego private transport for passenger transport the rising costs of fuel may impact the decision to drive to work in the There is a Queensland Ambulance Service First Responder Group future, though this is not proven and there are few alternatives in Imbil that services the Mary Valley. The First Responders are available. local volunteers, trained and supplied with QAS equipment to administer first aid at accident and emergency scenes prior to Figure 1 shows a general and widely accepted travel model. the arrival of advanced medical care (including an The figure shows a trip chain whereby commuters not only travel ambulance). The First Responders use their own vehicles to to work, but carry out incidental trips in conjunction with the attend to incidents, though it is not intended that they transport journey to work (such as shopping and eating out). patients in their vehicles unless instructed by the QAS (this is rare). Other chains in the journey to work trip include dropping children The Imbil First Responders Group is managed by the Cooroy at school, TAFE and child care. These incidental trips are not well Ambulance Service. supported by passenger transport services with fixed travel times, Journeys to Work routes and destinations. In rural communities such as the Mary Valley it is likely that a Table 1 shows that the majority of Mary Valley resident workers journey to work to Gympie would also be associated with (92%) drive or are driven to work (ABS, 2006 Census). This figure is shopping and eating out as opportunities for these in the Mary comparable to the 87% of employed Cooloola Shire residents Valley are limited. who indicated that they drive or are driven to work (ABS, 2006 Census).

Employed Imbil residents were more likely to cycle (9 people or 4%) or walk (32 people or 13%) to work than any other Mary

Valley residents, hence the comparatively lower percentage commuting to work by car from Imbil. For example, the Hyne Imbil Mill (Yabba Creek Road) is in walking distance to the town and some young people with part-time employment (Mary Valley College focus group) indicated that they walked and cycled to jobs in Imbil.

Figure 1: A typical trip chain Common Mary Valley occupations

Table 4 shows that many of the Mary Valley resident workforce report their occupations as farmers and farm managers (14%), sales persons and sales assistants (3%) and forestry, farm and Page | 21 garden workers (3%).

The combined occupations of farmer, farm manager, farm, forestry and garden workers accounts for 246 or 19% of the Mary Valley workforce. While this study did not interrogate the place

of work of Mary Valley residents, it is assumed that many Source: en.wikibooks.org/Fundamentals _of_Transportation/Trip_Generation employees in the farming industry work locally either walking or driving to work. Many farmers use their vehicle in their working day and passenger transport does not meet the needs of this Of all the people who indicated they worked in Gympie in 2006, group. fewer travelled by bus (29 people) than by taxi (30 people), despite a scheduled passenger bus service connecting Gympie The sales assistants could be employed in the higher order retail to surrounding communities 2. centres of Gympie, Cooroy and the Sunshine Coast. The casualisation of the retail sector and extended retail trading The Karrabee bus and coach company has indicated that it has hours could inhibit the use of passenger transport by Mary Valley capacity to carry public passengers on school buses travelling based sales workers. on school days from Brooloo to Gympie. Two buses travel from Brooloo to Gympie each school day, arriving in Gympie at The businesses surveyed for the MVBEAR project (2008:17-19) 8.40am. The return trip leaves Gympie at 3.00pm. The timing of were typical of Mary Valley businesses – most had fewer than 5 the return trip to the Mary Valley from Gympie could limit the use employees and many identified the owner-operator as the only of the service by commuters. ‘employee’. This is a typical profile in small farming areas.

The next section profiles the most common occupations of Mary Valley residents to identify possible demand for a commuter service from the Mary Valley to Gympie.

2 The Australian Bureau of Census 2006 data has been analysed to identify information on where people work. The address of each employed person’s main place of work, in the week prior to census night is used to code to a destination zone. Gympie is a destination zone.

Table 4: Occupations and workforce, Mary Valley The forestry sector is a key local employer with two Hyne Mills

Town Most Common Second Most Total close to Imbil (Yabba Creek Road and Melawondi Road) and Occupation Common Workforce expansive forest plantations throughout the Mary Valley. Occupation Page | 22 Amamoor 79 (16%) 22 (5%) 489 The forestry industry provides employment for over 180 workers at Farmers and Farm Sales Assistant and Imbil. There is no passenger transport to the two Hyne Mills in Managers Sales Person Imbil and consequently most of the mill workers drive to work or Kandanga 37 (16%) 15 (6%) 237 car pool. The mills operate on two shifts from 5.30am to 11.00pm Farmers and Farm Farm, Forestry and making passenger transport unfeasible (conversation with Mill Managers Garden Workers employee) and possibly accounts for the relatively high Bollier 17 (9%) 8 (4%) 182 proportion of Imbil residents who walk or cycle to work (17% Farmers and Farm Sales Assistant and Managers Sales Person compared to 6% for the Cooloola Shire). Carters 10 (6%) 8 (5%) 163 Ridge Farm, Forestry and Personal Carers and Local and visiting services Garden Workers Assistants As noted in the social impact assessment for the Traveston 8 (5%) Truck Drivers Crossing Dam, the Mary Valley communities display functional social capital evidenced by: Imbil 23 (22%) 20 (19%) 103 Farmers and Farm Farm, Forestry and Managers Garden Workers Community networks with high community capacity with significant numbers of community organisations, volunteer Brooloo 13 (13%) 7 (7%) 102 Farmers and Farm Sales Assistant and programs, networks or communities attached to schools, Managers Sales Person community and volunteer networks, community groups and MARY 179 (14%) 37 (3%) 1276 personal networks VALLEY Farmers and Farm Sales Assistant and (study Managers Sales Person Stable well-functioning and sustainable and community area) stability strongly influences the economic stability and have a Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006 Census long term demonstrated ability to manage current and future developments within the constraints of limited resources and within the ebb and flow of seasons (SKM, 2007:2-34 to 2-35).

The Mary Valley communities offer a range of local services and The Imbil general practitioner service (5 days a week), the groups including: Queensland Government Agent Program (QGAP) Office at the Kandanga Post Office, the Kandanga One Stop Shop and others  Imbil GP services 5 days a week identified in this report provide the Mary Valley communities with Page | 23  Imbil pharmacy service quality local service.  Imbil and Kandanga Post Offices The Kandanga One Stop Shop (Photo 4) provides information on  The Imbil library the Traveston Crossing Dam proposal and other Government  Imbil Friendly Grocers and non-Government services. The shop is adjacent to the Lifeline counselling and support service.  Imbil and Kandanga Bowls Clubs

 Imbil First Responders Photo 4: Kandanga One Stop Shop  Meals on Wheels  Safe and Confident Living Program  Carters Ridge shop  Carters Ridge Newsletter  Kandanga Lifeline  Kandanga swimming pool  Mary Valley Show Society  Mary Valley Inc  Imbil Police station (serves the Mary Valley)  Brooloo Rural Fire Brigade

 Dagun Community Group and monthly community BBQ and others.

The local availability of services generally based in large centres (such as medical, banking and Government services) can ease passenger transport demand.

Internet usage

In addition to locally available services, other non-transport strategies that facilitate access to higher order services are internet based. The internet provides access to personal Page | 24 banking, buying and selling of goods, health and other information that can reduce reliance on the larger centres.

Table 5 shows the internet connections in households in the Mary Valley communities.

Table 5: Mary Valley household internet connections 2006

Town Households with internet connection Amamoor 241 (55%) Kandanga 109 (52%) Bollier 84 (57%) Carters Ridge 102 (68%) Imbil 153 (50%) Brooloo 63 (55%) Mary Valley 752 (56%)

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006 Census

In addition to home and school based internet access, the Mary Valley residents can access the internet at the Imbil Library (three computers) and the Kandanga Information Centre (three computers).

Photo 5 shows the Imbil Library. The library provides three free internet accessible computers. Library hours are:  Tuesday and Thursday 9.30am-12.30pm  Wednesday 2.00pm-5.00pm. Page | 25

Photo 5: Imbil Library

Sub-Regional Transport Services in the Mary Valley

Rail services Table 6: Passenger railway services to Gympie North and Page | 26 Cooroy Railway Stations

The Mary Valley runs north-south and parallel to the North Coast South Bound railway line. Train Service Days Gympie Cooroy Brisbane Cost (Full)

Gympie North, Cooran, Pomona and Cooroy have passenger Wed, Fri, Sun 11.50am 1.15pm 3.55pm $40.70 railway stations in proximity to the Mary Valley (15kms to 40kms, Sunlander depending on the location of the town). Cairns Tilt Mon,Thur, Sat 6.32am 7.06am 9.35am $39.60 Daily 12.05pm 12.38pm 2.40pm $39.60 There are 5 long distance passenger railway services operating Tilt on the North Coast railway line. The services are the Cairns Tilt Mon to Fri 7.05am 7.38am 9.40am $39.60

Sunlander, Cairns , Rockhampton Tilt Train, Spirit of the Spirit of the Mon, Thur 3.45am 4.30am 7.20am $39.60 Outback and Bundaberg Tilt Train. Outback City Train Mon to Fri 6.00am 6.39am 8.50am $18.80 service travels northbound on Sunday, Tuesday 1.48pm 4.00pm and Thursday and southbound on Wednesday, Friday and North Bound Sunday. 30 Tilt Train services travel the North Coast railway line Train Service Days Brisbane Cooroy Gympie Cost (15 south bound and 15 north bound). (Full)

Cairns Sun, Tue, Thur 8.55am 11.30am 12.35pm $40.70 Table 6 shows the time, day and cost of south bound and north Sunlander 1.25pm 4.05pm 4.55pm bound railway services that stop at Cooroy and Gympie railway Cairns Tilt Mon, Wed, Fri 6.25pm 8.27am 9.02am $39.60 stations. Rockhampton Sun to Fri 11.00am 12.58pm 1.31pm $39.60 Tilt Sun and Fri 5.00pm 6.54pm 7.28pm

Bundaberg Tilt Mon to Thur 5.00pm 6.54pm 7.28pm $39.60

Spirit of the Tue 6.25pm 8.46pm 9.40pm $39.60 Outback Sat 1.10pm 3.36pm 4.25pm

City Train Mon to Fri 10.58am 1.29pm No service $18.80 Mon to Fri 5.40pm 7.55pm 8.33pm

Source: Travel Train and Queensland Rail web sites, accessed September 2008

There are courtesy coach connections from the Gympie North Photo 6 shows the Mary Valley ‘Rattler’ Steam Train. While railway station to Gympie coach station and the Gympie RSL. primarily a tourist service, residents report occasional use of the service by locals (particularly from Dagun station to Gympie). Gympie North railway station is the northern extent of the City Train passenger rail service connecting Gympie North, Cooran, Page | 27 Photo 6: Mary Valley Rattler Steam Train Pomona and Cooroy to Nambour, Brisbane and the South East Queensland railway and busway networks.

There is disparity in fares between the Sunlander, Tilt Train (long distance) and City Train services from Brisbane to Gympie North and Cooroy. The longer distance, more frequent services cost $39.60 and the City Train service (travelling zones 1-23 with one return trip daily to Gympie North) costs a maximum of $18.80 per trip. The travel time is comparable for each service at about 3 hours.

While the higher cost of the long distance train service is logical given the higher level of staffing and service provided, the higher fare is unfortunate for Mary Valley and region residents. The 5 long distance train services provide a regular, scheduled passenger service to Brisbane and the long distance train services are an effective week-end service that links through Roma Street Station to the Brisbane airports. The services travel Tuesday (Gympie-Amamoor return), Mary Valley Heritage Railway Wednesday (Gympie-Imbil return), Saturday (Gympie-Amamoor return) and Sunday (Gympie-Imbil return). The full adult fares are The Mary Valley Heritage Railway operates services from Gympie $36.00 Gympie to Imbil return and $20.00 Gympie to Amamoor to Dagun, Amamoor, Kandanga and Imbil railway stations and return with discounts for pensioners and seniors, children, families shorter trips from Gympie to Amamoor. The services are primarily and groups. for tourists, offering steam train and motor rail travel experiences through the Mary Valley. Some local people report that the train is only offered as a return service to Gympie but the Mary Valley Heritage Railway confirm

that the service is also available to passengers as a one-way Long distance bus services service (Interview, Mary Valley Heritage Railway). The Bruce Highway to the east of the Mary Valley Highway The historical railway stations are well maintained and provide a effectively connects a number of communities to key Page | 28 venue for local markets and activities for the train passengers as destinations both south and north including Gympie (to the shown in photo 7 of the Imbil Passenger Railway Station. north) and Nambour and Brisbane (to the south).

Photo 7: Imbil Passenger Railway Station Two long distance buses provide daily (return) services from Brisbane to Cairns with scheduled stops at the Matilda Roadhouse at Kybong and Jaycee Way in Gympie and a bus stop at the Cooroy Motel. The Greyhound service has 6 daily services to the Matilda Roadhouse at Kybong and 3 daily services to the Cooroy Motel travelling northbound. Two of the Greyhound services are scheduled to travel to the Brisbane airports and all south bound services will travel to the Brisbane airports if requested by passengers. Table 7 provides details of the two bus services.

Table 7: Gympie and Cooroy long distance bus services

South Bound

Bus Service Days Jaycee Matilda Cooroy Brisbane Cost Way Roadhouse Motel Transit Centre

Greyhound Daily 3.05am 4.00am No service 6.05am $35.65 8.30am 9.30am 9.40am 12.55pm

11.10am 12.10pm 12.30pm 3.30pm* 11.05am 12.05pm 12.25pm 2.30pm 1.30pm 2.30pm No service 6.00pm* 2.40pm 3.40pm 3.55pm 6.20pm

Premier Daily 8.40am 9.25am 9.45am 12.30pm $25.00

North Bound Long distance bus services

Bus Service Days Brisbane Cooroy Matilda Jaycee Cost Transit Motel Roadhouse Way Queensland Transport funds some long distance bus services to Centre connect rural and remote residents to higher order services in Greyhound Daily 7.00am 10.00am 11.00am 11.15am $35.65 larger centres. Without Queensland Transport funding, these Page | 29 7.45am No service 11.05am 11.20am services would not operate as they are not commercially viable. 10.30am* 1.25pm 2.25pm No 12.00pm No service 3.05pm service Across Queensland there are 10 services that provide access to 2.30pm 5.05pm 6.10pm 3.25pm 46 rural and remote communities. Examples are: 6.30pm 7.30pm No service 10.25pm  Rockhampton-Mt Morgan-Biloela-Moura-Theodore-Miles- 10.45pm Toowoomba Brisbane Premier Daily 2.00pm 4.40pm 5.40pm 5.50pm $25.00  Charleville-Roma-Toowoomba-Brisbane *These services stop at the Brisbane airports  Cunnamulla-St George-Moonie-Dalby-Toowoomba

A Translink bus service trial connects Cooran, Pomona and Similar to these more remote communities, Mary Valley residents Cooroy railway stations to , Noosa and other coastal are reliant on larger centres (such as Gympie and the Sunshine communities. This service commenced in March 2008. The Coast) for higher order medical, education, business and other Cooran to Noosa via Pomona and Cooroy service is designed to services. integrate rail and bus services and connect residents to the coastal activity centres. There are 2 morning and 2 afternoon services Monday to Friday from Cooran to Cooroy. Three of The public funding of a transport service from the Mary Valley to these services travel on from Cooroy to Tewantin, Noosa and Gympie is necessary to ensure that Mary Valley residents without Noosa Heads. There are three services on week-ends and public access to private vehicles are connected to the goods and holidays. Younger Mary Valley residents have expressed interest services of the larger centres. in visiting Noosa and the for socialising and shopping.

A Saturday public transport connection from the Mary Valley to Cooroy and the Cooran to Noosa via Pomona and Cooroy service could enhance the service’s viability and would link the Mary Valley and Sunshine Coast.

Scheduled air services To fly to or from the north on a scheduled flight, Mary Valley residents must travel south to the Brisbane domestic airport. The Maroochydore domestic airport (Sunshine Coast Airport) is 76kms from Imbil (1 hour driving time). The Sunshine Coast Airport Passenger transport to the Sunshine Coast, Hervey Bay-Fraser Page | 30 offers passengers regular, scheduled flights to Sydney and Coast and Brisbane Airports from the Mary Valley requires Melbourne and transfer by road (airport shuffle services) from considerable planning and knowledge of local transport options Sunshine Coast Airports to the Brisbane domestic and (such as the Splash Bus and school bus services, and connecting International airports. The airport supports Jet Star, Virgin Blue passenger transport services to Maroochydore, Hervey Bay and and Tiger airline services. The schedule is: Brisbane).  Daily flights to Sydney and Melbourne (Jet Star and Virgin Passenger transport from the Mary Valley to Brisbane domestic Blue) and international airports could take more than 5 hours.  Daily flights from Sydney and Melbourne (Jet Star and To connect to the Gympie North railway station options are the Virgin Blue) Splash Bus at $63.00 or the school bus at $5.00 from Imbil (the  Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday flights to Melbourne (Tiger school bus is cheaper from the northern towns of the Mary airlines) Valley). The school bus service does not connect with the 6.00am Translink (QRail) service from Gympie North railway  Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday flights from Melbourne (Tiger station, but it does connect with the long distance coaches to airlines). Brisbane at Jaycee Way.

The Sunshine Coast Airport does not provide flights to Brisbane or to northern destinations.

Imbil is equidistant from the Hervey Bay-Fraser Coast Airport and the Brisbane domestic and International airports (160kms or just over 2 hours drive time).

The Hervey Bay-Fraser Coast Airport has daily scheduled flights to and from Brisbane and Sydney with Jet Star, Qantas Link and Virgin Blue. There are no scheduled flights to northern destinations.

Two options for an Imbil resident to travel to Brisbane airport on a Public transport services school day are: The low population of the Mary Valley (3912 residents in the study OPTION 1 area) is an inhibiting factor for a commercially viable, regular bus • Page | 31 travel on the school bus from Imbil at 7.45am service to Gympie (a 41km trip from Brooloo in the south) or • arrive at Jaycee Way at Gympie at 8.35am Cooroy (a 27km trip from Carters Ridge in the Eastern area of the • catch the Premier Bus to Brisbane at 8.40am Mary Valley). • arrive in Brisbane at Roma Street railway station at 12.30pm and travel by train from Roma Street railway station to Brisbane airport The Karrabee Bus and Coach Company operated a week day public bus service from Brooloo to Gympie for 18 months and • at a total cost of $43.50 to Brisbane domestic airport reported a per annum loss of approximately $20 000.00. OPTION 2 For a Mary Valley public bus service to be effective, it will need • travel by ‘Splash Bus’ at 6.30am to Gympie North railway station to attract Government funding. The State Government could fund • travel by Bundaberg Tilt train from Gympie North Railway Station at the variable cost of the Brooloo to Gympie school bus service to 7.05am operate on school holidays. This maximises the Government’s • arrive at Roma Street railway station at 9.40am existing investment in the school bus service and provides a • travel by train to Brisbane airport regular week day passenger transport service for the Mary • at a total cost of $116.00 to Brisbane airport Valley to Gympie and return.

Photo 8 shows the Karrabee school bus. The Karrabee Bus and In an assessment of the north coast (Brisbane to Cairns) transport Coach Company’s Brooloo to Gympie school bus service is corridor, AusLink (AusLink 2006:6 in Queensland Transport, effectively the only public transport service in the Mary Valley 2007:21) found that air transport will grow rapidly (averaging over that links the communities (other than Carters Ridge) to Gympie. 5% per annum) and will expand its dominance of the long With marginal additional funding, the service could provide a distance passenger travel market. Connections to the Sunshine public passenger service on each week day (including school Coast and Brisbane airports from the Mary Valley need holidays). improvement for the Mary Valley to realise the benefits of air travel.

School buses

Photo 8: Karrabee school bus School buses are provided to transport primary and secondary Page | 32 students to their closest school. Many students are eligible for free bus transport if they reside distant from their closest school (3.2kms for primary and 4.8kms for secondary State School students). In the absence of other formal passenger transport services, school bus operators are a possible provider of public passenger transport.

The availability of school buses for public transport depends on the availability of seats. Additionally, school buses operate according to school schedules and are only available to public passengers during school semesters and at limited times on school days.

School bus routes are designed to meet the needs of school students including deviations from the main routes into rural and

rural residential areas. These factors can limit the viability of school buses as a regular public transport service.

Population Limits for Contracted Public Transport Services The utilisation of school buses for public passengers could also be inhibited by the Commonwealth Disability Standards that require Queensland Transport has a policy to provide funding support for that public passenger transport be equipped with low floor buses contracted public transport services where the population of a and that public passenger bus stops provide a wheelchair bay. community is greater than 7500 persons. While school buses are exempt from the Disability Standards for The population threshold criteria is not strictly applied as issues Accessible Public Transport 2002 3, if they promote a passenger such as the availability of a bus contractor, distance to transport service the guidelines could apply. Currently, school surrounding communities, rates of demand for a service and other matters are taken into account before a public transport 3 The Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 are a standard under Subsection 31(1) of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 . The purpose of the standard is to enable public service is implemented. transport operators and providers to remove discrimination from public transport services.

buses are not required to be wheelchair accessible and steps on Promoting school bus services to public passengers school buses can be high.

Pension discounts for travel on a school bus are at the discretion of the school bus operator providing the service as the operators Taxi services Page | 33 are not subsidised for public passengers. Issues such as the duty of care for children are raised as a constraint to the promotion of The Mary Valley is not considered by Queensland Transport to be school buses as public transport. a viable area for a contracted taxi service. Nevertheless, the ‘Splash Bus’ (not a taxi service, but operating as a demand The funding of school transport in Queensland is shared between responsive service) operators are planning to acquire a second the Departments of Transport and Education. School bus 11 seater disability friendly bus early in 2009 (face to face and operators may be required to pay additional operating costs telephone interviews September 2008) to meet the demand for such as operator accreditation and insurance fees to operate a the service generating from the Mary Valley. non-school bus run and contract exclusivity may inhibit the delivery of transport services in other contracted areas. This research recommends that Queensland Transport investigate the possibility of an exempted taxi service contract for the Mary School buses are a publicly funded transport resource in rural Valley. communities.

This study recommends some attention to the policy and operational issues for the public use of school buses such as: Cycling

Funding the Brooloo to Gympie school bus service to provide Local Cycling services on non-school days (student free days, school holidays) Young people (Refer Attachment 3) report cycling to visit friends and to attend part-time jobs in Imbil and other Mary Valley Subsidising pensioner travel on all school buses in the Mary towns. There are limited local cycle paths (there are some Valley shared foot paths) and no bicycle lock or storage facilities at the bus stops on the Mary Valley Highway. Expanding the Brooloo to Gympie school bus route to better service the Mary Valley communities (short ‘loops’ in Imbil, An investment in cycle ways (shared walking/cycling paths) and Kandanga and Amamoor to provide a comprehensive bicycle infrastructure (such as lockable bike racks at shops and service for town dwellers) bus stops) will encourage cycling for travel to local services and to passenger transport stops.

Sub-Regional Cycling The possibility of an annual competitive cycle tour of the Mary Valley should be investigated as one means of raising funds for The emergence of cycling as a potential sub-regional transport the Mary Valley Transport Fund. option is reflected in the Wide Bay Burnett Integrated Transport Plan Discussion Paper (Queensland Transport 2007) and is Page | 34 encouraged by Queensland Transport and the Department of Main Roads. The Discussion Paper identifies possible cycle way connections between Maryborough and Hervey Bay (35kms) and Bundaberg and Bargara (13kms).

The effectiveness of sub-regional cycle ways is dependent on terrain, distance and safety (particularly if the cycle way is shared road space).

In the Mary Valley, a cycle way connection between the northern communities (from Amamoor 19kms to Gympie) to Gympie is feasible. The Main Roads Cycling on State Controlled

Roads Policy states

Cyclists are legitimate users of the Queensland road network and as such the planning for, and design, construction, maintenance and operation of state-controlled roads should be undertaken on the basis that cyclists will use the network (Department of Main Roads, 2004)

The recent Cycle Queensland Bundaberg to Brisbane event attracted over 1200 riders who traversed the Mary Valley from Pomona to Kenilworth (via Traveston Crossing Road) as part of that tour.

Commercial cycle tours such as the Cycle Queensland tour provide funds to local communities as cyclists are a captured customer market.

Addressing transport disadvantage in the Mary Valley

Scholarly Literature on Transport Disadvantage Page | 35 In a comprehensive review of Australian and International These four concepts are evident in the Mary Valley in particular: transport disadvantage research and methods, Dodson et al • Locational Disadvantage with Senior Mary Valley College (2004) identify a range of concepts for understanding the Staff reporting students missing out on social, training and relationship between transport access and social status. work experience opportunities due to the high cost and limited availability of transport (both for organised school Concepts raised that are of relevance to the Mary Valley study excursions and travel outside of school) are: • Network Connectivity and Integration is limited by the • Locational disadvantage: an inability to access…the distance to sub-regional and regional transport whole range of facilities and resources which not only interchanges and the timetabling of these services. The improve well-being but better position households to take Matilda Roadhouse at Kybong (for access to long advantage of resources available to improve their longer- distance bus services) and the Gympie North Railway term chances (Maher et al 1992 in Dobson et al 2004:19). Station (for access to the North Coast line passenger rail • Transport accessibility: spatial distance or ease of services) are key transport interchanges for Mary Valley geographic access to transport services such as public residents and neither is serviced by the school bus (the transport. only affordable and regular passenger transport service). • Connectivity: the extent to which the transport network The Splash Bus will transport Mary Valley residents to these (primarily public transport modes) provides options for interchanges at a cost of $1.70 per km. The school bus connecting to desired activities and services. will service the Jaycee Way long distance bus stop in Gympie. • Network Integration: the extent of public transport integration (routes, wait times, transfers, fares, ticketing, This section outlines a number of approaches that could be timetabling). considered for improving transport outcomes in the Mary Valley.

Improving transport outcomes for older people Although the Mary Valley is not currently a taxi contract area, it is evident that some residents (due to impaired mobility) are and those with mobility issues in the Mary Valley eligible for this subsidy.

Particular transport issues facing older residents and those with The taxi subsidy scheme should be applied to demand Page | 36 mobility issues include: responsive passenger transport in the Mary Valley (such as the ‘Splash Bus’ and other future services) as the area has no • No public passenger transport service contracted taxi service.

• No contracted taxi service in the Mary Valley The taxi subsidy scheme maximum rebate of $25.00 per trip should be reviewed to acknowledge the high costs of taxi travel • Maintaining licences and continuing to drive beyond in areas covering vast distances, such as the southern area of capacity (due to limited alternatives to private car use) the Mary Valley to Gympie.

• An expensive $74.00 taxi fare from Imbil to Gympie (reducing to $49.00 if the person is eligible for the taxi subsidy) Improving transport outcomes for young people in the Mary Valley • The $25.00 taxi subsidy limit per trip (not an adequate subsidy considering the distance between centres and Particular transport issues facing young rural residents include: the lack of a contracted taxi service in the Mary Valley)  No week-end public transport service • No taxi subsidy for the ‘Splash Bus’ (not a taxi service but  Young people have an expressed desire to access social operating as a demand responsive local transport and recreational opportunities on the Sunshine Coast on service) week-ends  Models of operating transport services that could be In areas with a contracted taxi service, eligible residents can use introduced and adapted to meet the transport needs of taxis and pay half the price of the fare up to a total fare of $50 young people in the Mary Valley.

(the Queensland Government pays the fare balance). 100% of Attachment 5 presents a table of selected youth transport the fare more than $50 is paid by the passenger. The taxi subsidy services and initiatives from other areas of Australia that could scheme is currently being reviewed and that review will consider be adapted and applied in the Mary Valley. The services range the possibility of increasing the $25.00 subsidy limit (interview, from driver training to innovative transport solutions. Queensland Transport).

A preferred model for the Mary Valley for young people The BATBUS model could be effective in the Mary Valley with: accessing social and recreational activities is the Byron Area  availability of local passenger transport vehicles and Travel Bus (BATBUS). In this service model, young people plan drivers with their friends to attend a venue of their choice for social and Page | 37 recreational purposes. The group organiser contacts the  cooperation of the Mary Valley College and youth transport coordinator and provides the origin and destination, groups number of passengers and preferred time for the trip.  funding support from a Mary Valley Transport Fund

The coordinator then matches the groups travel needs to a  a Mary Valley Transport Coordination service range of transport providers (community buses, tourist operators, private bus companies, volunteers with comprehensively insured In addition to organised group travel, a Saturday bus service 6 vehicles, self drive buses and vans) to broker the most suitable month trial connecting the Mary Valley communities (Amamoor vehicle for the best price that is available at the requested time. and south) via Carters Ridge to Cooroy to connect with the Noosa to Cooran via Cooroy and Pomona (route 632) service to In the BATBUS service model, the travelling group must have at the Sunshine Coast will provide young people and other least 50% of passengers aged between 12 and 25 years and communities members with a bus connection to the coast. from Byron Shire. The group must be a minimum of 8 people for a local trip and 10 for a long distance trip although some flexibility on numbers is possible.

The BATBUS does not own a vehicle though it does have a pool of volunteer drivers with vehicles and chaperones. The combined reliance on young people to self-organise (the secondary schools are involved) and the transport resource knowledge and networks of the coordinator make the service affordable. The service operates with NSW State Government funding of $23 000 per annum. Bus travellers make a small contribution to the costs of the transport. The BATBUS does not provide a service that is competing with existing contracted bus services. As the bus does not travel to licensed venues, this model may not meet the needs of some older travellers.

Improving public transport in small communities passenger railway station on the North Coast railway line with regular City Train services south to Brisbane and long distance There are currently two Government funded contracted public train services south and north bound. bus services connecting small communities to regional centres in Page | 38 the vicinity of the Mary Valley. These services provide evidence The towns are on the Blackall Range tourist drive, promoted for of Queensland Government support for public transport services the spectacular views from the road to the Sunshine Coast, in small communities (communities below the 7500 resident picturesque settings and quality built form, art galleries, cafes, threshold). bed and breakfast and luxury accommodation. During the month of July 2005, Maroochy Tourism recorded nearly 1300 1. The Tin Can Bay (2096 residents) and Rainbow Beach visitors to Montville which has a resident population of only 850 (1000 residents) bus service travels a distance of 77kms to people (Johnson, 2007:23). Gympie in the morning and returns in the afternoon. There is one return service a day on week days and no The Blackall Range communities and their Councillor lobbied for week-end or public holiday service. 4 years for a public bus service. In response, the Sunshine Coast Regional Council and Queensland Transport negotiated the 2. The Hinterland Connect Bus Service Trial connects Maleny shared funding (30% Council:70% Queensland Transport) of a six (1293 residents), Montville (853 residents), Flaxton (919 month trial bus service to connect the Mapleton, Flaxton, residents) and Mapleton (1440 residents) and travels a Montville and Maleny communities to Nambour. distance of 26kms to Nambour (return) 4 times a day (including Saturday and Sunday). It was agreed that, to be viable, the service would need to operate at 30% cost recovery (approximately 8 passengers per Due to the similar distances between the communities and the trip). The service targets both resident and tourist travellers with 4 regional centre, the Hinterland Connect Service is of particular return services a day 7 days a week. interest to the Mary Valley research. The service is exceeding the target of 8 passengers per trip on week days (averaging 10.6 per trip), though the week-end Hinterland Connect Bus Service trial services are below expectations with an average of 5.6 The Blackall Range communities of Mapleton, Flaxton, Montville passengers per trip on a Saturday and 5 passengers per trip on a and Maleny have a combined population of just over 4500 Sunday. Due to the high level of patronage, the bus service trial people (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006 Census). The regional will be extended to July 2009. centre of Nambour is located to the north east of these Interrogation of the passenger types shows that most passengers communities and has a General Hospital, a TAFE, and a are students (37%) and pensioners (33%), followed by adults

(28%) and children (2%), (Queensland Transport, 2008). The Table 8: Comparison of selected characteristics of the Blackall Range service does not appear to attract high numbers of commuters (Hinterland Connect ) and Mary Valley communities though the timetabling of the service (first service departs Characteristic Blackall Range Mary Valley Maleny for Nambour at 6.55am and the last service departs Communities Communities Brooloo, Mapleton, Flaxton, Carters Ridge, Bollier, Imbil, Page | 39 Nambour for Maleny at 5.10pm) facilitates commuting to Montville, Maleny Kandanga, Amamoor employment in Nambour. Residents Aged >65 876 406 years Table 8 shows characteristics of the four Blackall Range 19% 10% communities served by the Hinterland Connect Bus Service School Aged 818 771 Children (5-17 18% 20% compared to the Mary Valley communities of the study area. years) The selected characteristics of age, income, labour force Not in the Labour 2153 1526 participation (not in labour force includes residents over 15 years Force 43% 39% and unemployed, retired, students, home duties, unpaid workers etc) and motor vehicle ownership are indicators of passenger Households with no 75 58 Car 4% 4% transport service demand. Average $733.00 $700.00 Features to note are: Household Income (weekly gross)  Higher representation of older people in the Blackall Median Age 47 years 41 years Range communities (almost double the Mary Valley) Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006 Census  Proximate number and percentage of school aged

residents in both areas (5-17 year olds)  Similar representation of households with no motor vehicle Providing community based transport services in both areas (4%) Community based transport needs are those not met by the use of  Maleny has an exempted taxi service (Range Taxis) and private vehicle, public transport systems or walking or cycling there is no contracted taxi service in the Mary Valley (Queensland Transport, 2006:10) communities Community transport appears to be an increasingly preferred solution to the provision of public passenger services in rural communities across Australia. For example, the Victorian Government’s Transport Connections grants program supports local communities to design tailor made solutions to their

transport problems. Similar to Victoria, the Queensland Government’s Blueprint for the Bush strategy incorporates a community transport grants program. Population Service description 1000 low demand satisfied by a demand responsive door Some characteristics of the Mary Valley communities that are population to door vehicle one or two days a week Page | 40 favourable to the adoption of a community transport service 5000 demand across the week satisfied by one or two are: population vehicles operating as a timetabled service on a door to door basis  precedent for working together for community solutions (Local and State Government, non-Government 10 000 relatively high demand satisfied with daily or more population frequent services, splitting the service area into two organisations and bus operators) or more zones with ‘maxi taxi’ vehicles

 dispersed, small rural settlements with limited passenger 15 000 high demand satisfied with fixed route or mass transit transport services population services, one in the morning and one in the afternoon  higher order goods and services concentrated in larger centres with defined service catchments (known (Ferrier, 2006a:11-12) common destinations of Gympie, Cooroy and the Sunshine Coast) In some rural communities, it is more efficient and more  relatively young population with identifiable destinations economical to provide flexible, door to door services either in for socialising, shopping and entertainment association with fixed route mass transit services or instead of the higher order transport services. For the Mary Valley communities,  local transport operators committed to trying new passenger transport services. there are a number of transport operators (predominantly school bus and charter) and community organisations and groups demanding travel at different times. The Community Based Transport Guidelines (2006a) provide a rule of thumb for demand and supply of community transport Rather than introducing a new transport service, such as a services. The following is a summary of the recommendations in community transport service, the resourcing of passengers the Guidelines. (through the Mary Valley Transport Fund) and the matching of the existing transport resources with passengers (through information collected and distributed by the transport coordination service) can utilise existing transport resources and resource and support passengers to choose the best travel option.

The transport development worker is ……negotiating transport solutions between the communities in question, the local transport operators and, on occasions, funding bodies. Coordinating transport services and resources As well as addressing the contractual and funding constraints, Experience from transport development projects in New South Wales shows us that typical solutions always reflect local Page | 41 the utilisation of transport resources for public passengers conditions and are more often innovative. Not all solutions are requires improved coordination to match the supply and found at a local level and it will sometimes be necessary to take demand for transport services. actions at a central level, particularly if government regulations or contract conditions inhibit the development of new services. The formal and informal approaches are complementary Queensland Transport has funded Transport Development (Denmark, 2000). Workers in some areas of regional Queensland to undertake this and related tasks for transport service improvements. An example of a transport development worker is Centrecare’s Home and Community Care (HACC) transport coordinator Queensland Transport evaluated the transport development based in Caboolture. The coordinator’s role is to find transport component of the Maranoa Health Enhancement Project solutions for individual HACC clients but also to liaise with public (Richardson, 2006) and identified that the transport development and private transport providers and develop operational worker had added value to passenger transport services partnerships for passenger transport service improvements for including: HACC clients and other transport disadvantaged groups. • Identifying flexible informal options such as vacant seats on mail couriers and milk delivery vehicles One of the findings of this research is the need for improved • Recruiting and training volunteer drivers effectively transport coordination. That is, the linking of passengers to local increasing the pool of volunteer drivers and sub-regional transport services to Brisbane and Brisbane airport, the Sunshine Coast and Northern communities. • Bringing services to the local communities through outreach programs The Mary Valley has some residents who hold knowledge of the • Auditing government and other publicly funded vehicles local and sub-regional passenger services including eligibility and addressing issues of their use for passenger transport. and timetables, but this knowledge is not widely distributed

throughout the community. The transport coordinator role could A transport coordinator (or transport development worker) liaises between the community, government and the transport be performed by members of Mary Valley Inc as part of the operators to negotiate transport services that meet local travel transport funds management role. needs.

Addressing the impacts of increasing fuel costs of using the demand responsive ‘splash bus’ service compared to driving the private vehicle. The rise in the cost of fuel impacts on all users of private transport and to a lesser extent, users of public transport as fares can rise to cover additional costs. The location of rural areas distant from Page | 42 services combined with the rising cost of fuel exacerbates transport disadvantage for Mary Valley residents. Tables 9 and 10 compare the relative strengths (including cost) of local Mary Valley transport options.

Solutions include more responsive passenger transport services and non-transport solutions such as increased visiting services in rural communities (such as training, job network, Centrelink, Medicare and others) and utilisation of internet based and home delivery services.

While the findings of research on the impacts of increasing fuel costs (the result of peak oil combined with increased demand for oil) on rural communities in Australia are contested (the Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas highlights the differential impacts depending on the local circumstances) possible positive impacts are: • Relocalisation as rural residents become less mobile (Barson, 2007). Local services can benefit from reduced private travel to regional centres as locals spend their money at local outlets. • Decentralisation and expansion of some services such as hospitals.

Tables 9 and 10 present the comparative costs of local travel in the Mary Valley to major centres. The tables show the high cost

Table 9: Comparative Strengths of Local Transport Options – Imbil to Gympie Method of Cost Strengths Limitations Travel

Private $24.15* Car provides freedom Access to a private vehicle Car of time of travel and and registered driver Page | 43 route, personal Rising cost of fuel comfort and carriage of passengers and Multiple long distant trips to goods meet the needs of family members

Bus $5.00 Many school bus Bus is not available on school (school Adults** services and routes. holidays bus and $4.50 Seniors Fixed and regular No week-ends or public Thursday Card** travel times. holiday service Shoppers Bus) Spare capacity on No availability if no seat major bus services available

Thursday $5.00 Regular, reliable Only one day a week. The Shoppers Adults** service with regular, service is subsidised by the bus Bus mainly older company. passengers.

Splash $63.00 per Fully demand Must book 2 hours before Bus^ trip responsive transport travel Capacity for service Costs are higher for less 11 passengers passengers Wheelchair Service has one vehicle accessible

Gympie $74.00 per Fully demand Some residents report that the Golden trip by taxi. responsive transport Taxi may not collect in a timely City Taxis $109.00 per service manner due to distance from trip by maxi Gympie and prioritisation. taxi (10 seats and can carry 2 wheelchairs).

* Calculated at the Australian Tax Office Rates per Business Kilometre rate of $0.69 per km for a conventional engine vehicle at 1601-2600cc. Larger engine vehicles are $0.70 per km. ^ Flat rate cost of $1.70 per km for all trips. **Karrabee Coach + Bus prices @ 2008

Table 10: Comparative Strengths of Local Transport Options – Carters Ridge to Cooroy Promoting passenger transport services and

Method of Cost Strengths Limitations subsidies Travel The Government (State and Commonwealth) provides a range Page | 44 Private Car $18.60* Car provides Access to a private freedom of time of vehicle and registered of subsidies to eligible passengers. A table of Government travel and route, driver subsidies available to Mary Valley residents is shown at personal comfort and carriage of Attachment 4. passengers and goods Promoting Passenger Transport Services Bus (school bus) n/a Two school bus Not many spare seats services. on the Cooroy school A review of services, timetables and routes indicates that current buses. All booked if all Fixed and regular passenger transport services in the Mary Valley communities’ travel times and students travel all the routes. time preferences school students, shoppers (weekly service to No week-ends or Gympie) and organised groups (Splash Bus and other private public holiday or school holiday services local charter options).

Splash Bus $46.00^ Fully demand Must book 2 hours (11 seater responsive transport before travel This research found that access to Mary Valley passenger bus and service Costs are higher when transport information for local, sub-regional and regional travel is driver) less passengers travel complex. One vehicle available Suncoast Cabs n/a Fully demand Some confusion (in It can be particularly difficult to locate information on timetables, responsive transport Suncoast cabs) as to routes and fares for passenger services such as school buses, the service whether Carters Ridge is in the Suncoast cab Splash Bus, HACC transport, long distance coaches and railway area. services. Locating this passenger transport information required Suncoast may refer the call to Gympie taxis if liaison with transport operators, service providers and community passenger is travelling leaders with considerable local knowledge. to Gympie.

* Calculated at the Australian Tax Office Rates per Business Kilometre rate of $0.69 According to Lovelock (1987) in Denmark (2000a) transport per km for a conventional engine vehicle at 1601-2600cc. Larger engine vehicles information must be “informing, persuading and reminding the are $0.70 per km. ^ Flat rate cost of $1.70 per km for all trips public” about the services provided. The transport information task is to be both “promotional and navigational” (Denmark, 2000a:3).

The promotion of transport services through verbal presentations Mary Valley (through Mary Valley College, sports groups, and creative methods is as vital to improving services as the Safe and Confident Living, Veterans and others) production and distribution of transport information. Promoting passenger transport services in the local paper such as the Mary Valley Voice and on Mary Valley Page | 45 Experience in Esk websites

The Esk/Kilcoy Community Support Association produced a Promoting passenger transport services to new residents transport directory that detailed all passenger services and through real estate agencies and through Council mail- available subsidies. outs (Council newsletters and rates notifications).

The directory was distributed to each household and was Concern was expressed by some school transport providers that available at Council and other high profile community outlets. promoting a passenger transport service could lead to a Despite this distribution, interviews with members of Seniors’ demand that may not be met on each school day (for example, groups and focus groups with young people in Esk Shire if all eligible students travelled on each school day and buses (Johnson, 2006) revealed limited knowledge of the directory, its were full). If school bus runs do not have the capacity to carry contents or where to access it. public passengers, than this indicates demand for a passenger transport service. The distribution of transport information must be creative, engaging and repeated. qconnect

To raise awareness of transport services a range of methods is The Queensland Transport qco nnect initiative provides a uniform needed such as: system of ticketing and fares, coordinated timetabling and Decorating passenger vehicles to promote services as standard signage for public transport services throughout the they operate (such as the colourful Mary Valley ‘Splash State. The initiative has been developed in response to the Bus’ and the attractive Karrabee buses) successes of Translink in achieving a coordinated public transport system in the metropolitan areas of the south east. Decorating bus shelters and providing fixed display timetable and service information at each bus shelter and Queensland Transport is also implementing accessible public bus stop (consistent with the Translink and qconnect transport infrastructure in rural and regional areas. All public initiatives) transport services including bus stop infrastructure for suburban Regularly presenting passenger transport service and long distance bus services are subject to the standards information to groups of seniors and young people in the outlined in the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002.

Queensland Transport has secured funding to assist Local Photo 9: Typical Mary Valley highway bus shelter Government to meet the target dates for all bus stops to be complaint with the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport. To be compliant, bus stops must meet a number of Page | 46 requirements including, but not limited to, providing wheelchair accessibility, tactile ground surface indicators and signage requirements.

Mary Valley residents may benefit from qconnect initiatives in Gympie, however the benefits of the qconnect initiative are not evident in the Mary Valley as there is no public transport service. Mary Valley bus shelters, bus stops, signage, timetable information all need attention to inform residents of the current local and sub-regional passenger transport services.

Photo 9 is a typical Mary Valley Highway Bus Shelter. The enhancement of these shelters with consistent and creative branding and fixed timetables will assist to promote the Brooloo to Gympie school bus service to public passengers.

Utilising Technology 3. website information regarding accessible transport and travel. Technology that can be used to improve the efficiency of Mary Valley passenger transport services. Examples include: These three elements combine to create a one-stop booking, scheduling and reporting system. The system optimises passenger Page | 47  ‘SMS’ (short message service) and mobile phones (for transport services at 3 levels: contact between drivers and passengers to report service delays or service changes). The mobile coverage in the 1. matching passengers to suitable vehicles Mary Valley is unpredictable and patchy and SMS 2. matching requests for travel (origins and destinations) technology will not apply in all areas 3. matching time of travel (so agencies can make efficient  web based technology for transport information use of vehicles). (timetables, routes, fares, subsidies) and for booking transport and matching passengers to vehicles The service generates a ‘virtual route’ for transport providers and the virtual tour is communicated to the passenger transport  technology on the vehicles to map ‘virtual routes’ for provider. flexible bus services. This technology is utilised by the ‘Kan-Go’ passenger transport services in Toowoomba While this service operates in urban areas where there are a and Hervey Bay. range of passenger transport services, the principles can be The Splash Bus driver has a mobile phone and distributes his applied in the Mary Valley. A transport coordination program number to passengers. The Karrabee coach drivers have an on could simply link passengers (needs, times of travel and address). board communication system, linked between each bus. This system currently operates using local social networks (though, these are changing with the changing residents) to David Denmark has developed a SmartLink service that supports transport services (time of travel, destination) can be developed demand responsive transport (community and patient transport that includes local and sub-regional travel (similar to a travel and flexible bus services), though the system could also include agent). fixed route transport information. Denmark advocates for new forms of technology, particularly to The Smartlink service incorporates three elements: support passengers with variable skill levels.

1. demand responsive transport The use of new forms of technology has resulted in the development of a number of electronically based information

2. a web based register (including details of the vehicles systems some with general application and others specifically for and the addresses and needs of regular passengers) people with disabilities. These include telephone information systems, passive and active computer based systems and other

more radical technology such as smart bus stops, talking signs and auditory maps (Denmark, 2000:3).

Web-based technology has been used effectively by Queensland Transport (Transinfo) for transport information in Page | 48 South East Queensland. The passenger can input their address and preferred travel times and destination/s and within moments can identify their travel choices (see www.transinfo.qld.gov.au).

The high rates of access to the internet in the Mary Valley (more than 50% of homes have internet access) suggest that it is viable to distribute information on local, sub-regional and regional passenger transport options, subsidies and their eligibility at one web location for Mary Valley residents (such as imbil.net.au).

Strategies to improve passenger transport and mobility in the Mary Valley Page | 49

Table 11 presents the study findings and the six (6) strategies for improving passenger transport and mobility in the Mary Valley.

Table 11: Findings and Strategies for Transport Improvement

Findings Strategies There is demand for week day travel to Gympie from BROOLOO TO GYMPIE WEEK DAY BUS SERVICE secondary students not eligible for free travel, TAFE  Introduce a Government subsidised week day bus service from Brooloo to Gympie. The students, unemployed and older people to access week day service would extend the current school bus service (Route S314) to operate shops, employment and other services in Gympie. during school holidays. By extending the operation of the school bus service to school A daily public bus service is not commercially viable holidays, the Government will fund the variable cost of the additional service and not and needs Government subsidy. the total cost of a public transport service. Enhanced funding to the existing Brooloo to Gympie  Expand the route of the Brooloo to Gympie school bus route (Route S314) to better school bus operator would deliver a week day service service the main communities of the Mary Valley (Imbil, Kandanga and Amamoor) by from Brooloo to Gympie (including school holidays) at introducing town ‘loops’. These town loops add approximately 2 kms to the Brooloo to marginal cost to the Government. Gympie trip but will promote the bus service and access most houses in the towns. Town ‘loops’ in Imbil, Kandanga and Amamoor will add only minutes to the trip but will increase the service coverage of the only Mary Valley public passenger transport service from Brooloo to Gympie. The expanded route will also enhance the profile of the transport service as the branded bus moves through local streets.

Young people at Mary Valley College expressed a A SATURDAY BUS TO THE BEACH strong desire to travel to Noosa and the Sunshine Coast  Introduce a Saturday 6 months trial public transport service from Amamoor to Cooroy on week-ends. A 6 month Saturday trial bus service via Carters Ridge to connect with the Noosa to Cooran via Cooroy and Pomona (route could connect Mary Valley residents to Cooroy and to 632) public bus service from Cooroy to the Sunshine Coast. The service should offer the connecting bus service to the Sunshine Coast. student and pensioner discounts.

Findings Strategies The Mary Valley has many transport operators. Mary RESOURCE THE MARY VALLEY PASSENGERS Valley groups (Mary Valley College, youth and seniors  Establish a locally managed transport fund ($10 000-$20 000 per annum) that resources groups in particular) have limited resources to fund the Mary Valley communities for subsidised travel in organised groups (such as school Page | 50 transport costs associated with trips out of the Mary groups, Safe and Confident Living participants, the Country Women’s Association, Valley. Resourcing the passengers will empower them youth groups and young people, sporting teams and other incorporated and to choose the best transport option. unincorporated groups). The fund manager would also issue cab charges to cover the A Transport Coordination Service is needed to link full costs of transport in some circumstances (such as for young people to travel home passengers to updated information on local, sub- safely in the evenings, after events). The fund would be administered by a local regional and regional transport options. incorporated organisation such as Mary Valley Inc and the fund management would publish fund guidelines (criteria for funding, funding limits, passenger contributions, eligibility and administration).  Establish and fund a Mary Valley transport coordination service that links passengers and potential passengers with transport options and transport information for local and sub-regional passenger transport services including health transport. This service will also link learner drivers to volunteer experienced driver mentors and their vehicles as a local resource for young learners. The transport coordination service would also manage the local transport fund. The MVBEAR survey identified the need for public PROMOTE PASSENGER TRANSPORT SERVICES transport from the Mary Valley to Gympie. The current  Undertake an all household and business mail-out. The mail-out would provide Brooloo to Gympie school bus service regularly carries information about local and sub-regional passenger transport services, booking public passengers and this and other services need to requirements and subsidies in a creative, simple format. The same information should be better promoted to residents as ‘public’ transport be made available in the local media such as websites (imbil.net.au and others) and services. the Mary Valley Voice (quarterly advertising) and regularly presented at the Mary Information that is navigational and promotional is Valley College, Youth and Seniors Groups. needed to advertise the existing Mary Valley passenger  Ensure the consistent and creative branding of bus shelters transport service to residents and visitors.  Brand bus stops in the towns indicating the expanded local bus routes  Ensure secure timetables and booking information is available at all bus shelters and bus stops in the Mary Valley The taxi subsidy applies to eligible taxi passengers EQUITABLE TRANSPORT FUNDING though not to the local demand responsive transport  Apply the taxi subsidy scheme to the Splash Bus and other similar flexible passenger service (Splash Bus). transport services that may develop in the Mary Valley. The taxi subsidy funds a maximum of $25.00 (half of a  Review the taxi subsidy scheme for non-urban areas and increase the upper limit (from $50.00 fare) and the balance of the fare (if more than $25.00) to reflect the high cost of taxi travel in these communities with no contracted $50.00) is paid by the passenger. This does not taxi service acknowledge the high cost of taxi travel in

Findings Strategies communities like the Mary Valley where there is no  contracted taxi service. The cost of a taxi from Imbil to  Reduce the long distance passenger rail service fares to align with the City Train fares Gympie is &74.00. for passengers travelling from and to Cooroy and Gympie North railway stations from The City Train provides one daily week day southbound City Train stations (including Brisbane). Page | 51 and one northbound service at Gympie North station  Investigative the feasibility of introducing an exempt taxi service contract for the Mary and 2 week day southbound and northbound services Valley. at Cooroy station.

The long distance Travel trains provide a range of services including Saturday and Sunday services to both stations southbound and northbound. The City Train fare is half of the long distance train fare yet the travel time is comparable. The fares for City Train and long distance train service should be aligned to allow equitable access to train services for Gympie, Cooroy and district residents (including Mary Valley residents). An exempted taxi service could provide an additional local demand responsive service. Queensland Transport should consider the feasibility of a Mary Valley exempted taxi contract and consider the Range Taxi service as a comparative service. Cycling infrastructure can support the short trips SUPPORT CYCLING between towns in the Mary Valley and can link the  Invest in infrastructure to support cycling and walking around and between towns northern communities (Amamoor and Dagun) to (cycle ways and lockable bicycle storage facilities in towns and at bus stops) Gympie.

The Main Roads Cycling policy facilitates cycling (provision of wide shoulders) on the Mary Valley Highway as a sub-regional cycle way. A competitive cycling tour of the Mary Valley could be a source of funds for the Mary Valley Transport Fund.

Definitions Exempted Taxi Service licences are issued in areas with small populations Communities includes these townships and their surrounding districts as which would be unlikely to support a full metered taxi service. Therefore, defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics State Suburbs. The broader they are not required to fit a taxi fare meter and may be exempted from area is included in the study to provide a more comprehensive profile of the Page | 52 the six year age limit on their vehicle. Fares for exempted areas are resident populations. generally higher than for metered taxi service areas. Metered Taxi Service Areas require that taxi operators have a fare meter Fully Demand Responsive Transport Services are services such as taxis that and provide a twenty-four hour service using a vehicle of not more than six respond to the travel demands of the passenger including origin, years of age (eight years for a wheelchair accessible vehicle). The fares for destination, time of travel and sometimes the route. The service will travel metered areas are generally less than for exempted taxi service areas from anywhere to anywhere. A demand responsive service will not operate reflecting the increased viability of taxi services in these areas. if there is no demand for the service (if it is not booked by passengers). Passenger Transport is all private and publicly funded services mandated to Flexible Public Transport Services are a variation of a fully demand carry passengers (such as scheduled buses, trains, school buses, community responsive transport service. They are typically road based services (such transport vehicles, service club and shoppers’ buses, tourist buses, taxis, long as buses and maxi-taxis) where some aspect of the route or the timetable distance buses and others). or both are varied to meet the needs of passengers. For example, the flexible public transport service is generally a maxi taxi or car that picks you Transport Coordinator is a person (may not be a full-time position) who up at your home and travels to a fixed destination (such as a railway liaises between the community, government and the transport operators to station, hospital or shopping centre) at a fixed time for a fixed fare. The negotiate transport services that meet local travel needs. To achieve this, service will not operate if it is not booked. the coordinator’s role could range from brokering transport services for individuals and groups, resolving insurance issues for multi-driver vehicles, Home and Community Care (HACC) program supports frail aged people, advocating for increased visiting services to rural centres and other younger disabled people and their carers to live at home in the community. activities. In Queensland, the program is administered by Queensland Health and Disability Services Queensland. Transport Development Worker is the same as a Transport Coordinator.

Mary Valley Communities The Mary Valley communities for the purpose of Transport Resources is all transport in a community that is potentially this study are Dagun, Amamoor, Kandanga, Bollier, Imbil, Brooloo and available to carry passengers including private vehicles, publicly funded Carters Ridge. Map 1 shows the communities. The Mary Valley and owned vehicles, non-Government organisation vehicles, school buses, service club vehicles, trains and others.

References

AusLink (2006) Brisbane Cairns Corridor Strategy , Australian Government, Canberra Queensland Ambulance Service information viewed September 2008 at www.ambulance.qld.gov.au Page | 53 Barson J (2007) Peak Oil, Petrol Prices, Climate Change and Rural Communities , Health Sector Working Group, Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas- Queensland Council of Social Services (QCOSS) and St Johns Ambulance (2004) Australia, accessed at www.vcoss.org.au/documents Transport Options and Access Guid e, QCOSS, Brisbane

Denmark, D (2000) Scoping Study to Determine Future Policy Options Available in Queensland Health (2004) Health Determinants Queensland 2004 , Queensland Response to Unmet Transport Needs , Brisbane City Council, Brisbane Government, Brisbane

Denmark, D (2000a) Best Practice Manual for the Publication and Display of Public Queensland Health (2005a) Access to Health Services: transport is the key , State-wide Transport Information , Department of Ageing and Disability, New South Wales Health Service Planning Division, Brisbane Government, Sydney Queensland Health (2005b) Access to Health Services: transport is the key Dodson, J, Gleeson, B and Sipe, N (2004) Transport Disadvantage and Social Status: a Implementation Plan 2005-2008 , State-wide Health Service Planning Division, Brisbane review of literature and methods , Urban Policy Program Research Monograph 5, Griffith University, Brisbane Queensland Health (2006) Queensland Home and Community Care Program Service Agreement Guidelines , Queensland Government, Brisbane Ferrier, H (2006) Community-based Transport Queensland Toolbox , Queensland www.health.qld.gov.au/hacc Government and Local Government Association of Queensland, Brisbane Queensland Health (2008) Facility Profile: Sunshine Coast and Cooloola Health Ferrier, H (2006a) Community-based Transport Queensland Guidelines , Queensland Service District- Gympie Hospital , Queensland Government, viewed at Government and Local Government Association of Queensland, Brisbane www.health.qld.gov.au/wwwprofiles/sunshine_c_gympie_hosp.asp

Johnson, L (2006) Fair for All: Improving travel choice for Esk Shire residents , Esk Kilcoy Queensland Transport (2001), Safe Mobility, for All, For Life , Discussion Paper, Community Support Association, Esk Queensland Government, Brisbane

Johnson, L (2007) Mobilised for Mobility: A study of Passenger Transport in Rural Queensland Transport (2007) Wide Bay Burnett Integrated Transport Plan Background Communities in South East Queensland , Office of Urban Management, Paper , Queensland Government, Brisbane (accessed at www.transport.qld.gov.au) Queensland Government Queensland Transport (2008) Hinterland Connect Trial Service: report on patronage Khong L (2003) Forum Report: Forum on Transport and Young People in Rural and trends 1 December 2007 to 31 July 2008 , Passenger Transport Division, unpublished Regional Australia , Dusseldorp Skills Forum, Sydney report

Logan, P (2007) Best Practice Demand-Responsive Transport (DRT) Policy , Road & Richardson, B (2006) Evaluation Report: The Transport Development Component of Transport Research , vol.16, no.2, pp.3-12 the Maranoa Health Enhancement Project , Queensland Transport, Brisbane

Department of Main Roads (2004) Cycling on State Controlled Roads , Main Roads SKM (2007) Traveston Crossing Dam Environmental Impact Statement , Queensland Policy accessed at www.mainroads.qld.gov.au Water Infrastructure Pty Ltd, Brisbane

Parker-Price, K (2008) Mary Valley Business Expansion & Retention Program: community report , MVBEAR

Attachment 1 Mary Valley Informant Interviews

Person and Consultation Key Issues Person and Consultation Key Issues Organisation Format Organisation Format Page | 54 Marie Hensley Steering Local contacts for consultation $63.00 Imbil to Gympie. Will travel to any destination (including Brisbane). Jane Roberts Group Timeframe and process agreed Meeting Ken Cluff Cathy Kennedy Flo Vickery Telephone Need resident Doctor interview Roger Hogg CWA Secretary No way to get to specialist services in and Imbil Safe Nambour other than private car Kaili Parker- and Confident Price Expense of hiring transport (Splash Bus) to Living Program the coast and the need to fill the bus to Kim Bowditch manage individual costs Cr Jan Watt Face to Future growth of the towns to be Melawondi Mill Telephone The 2 mills employ over 180 workers and face determined by a State Government plan Gympie Interview most workers drive to work with some car Interview making process. Strong opposition to the Administrator Regional pooling. There are 2 mill shifts (5.30am for dam locally. Council Follow-up the first shift and the 2 nd shift finishes at telephone Council could perceive request for recurrent 11.30pm). The shift work makes it hard for interview funding of Mary Valley passenger transport buses to service the mills. services as cost shifting. Rates have increased and could increase again within 3 Neil Mahoney Face to School has limited funds for transporting years so, rates increase to (Principal) face students for excursions, sports competitions Helen Grogan interview etc Julie Worth 2 x Face-to- Limited demand for a commuter service so, (Snr Teacher) Encourage community use of school face stopped the daily service to Gympie. Karrabee facilities to minimise transport of students Interviews Thursday Shoppers Bus still operating though Mary Valley Coach and Bus and local sports teams. and area not commercially feasible. 10-20 older College tours passengers (mostly about 16 passengers) Many parents have limited private resources to support student travel and attendance at Follow-up each Thursday to Gympie to shop etc. events outside of the school. telephone interview The students benefit from excursions as many are shy and not used to engaging Bill Teniusson Face to Conflict with QT over taxi status (not licensed with urban communities. and Steven face as a taxi but a pre-booked community Smith interview transport service). Post Master Face to Social disadvantage evident with up to 12 face people faxing dole forms to Centrelink as no Splash Bus Follow-up Plan to acquire second 11 seater bus after Imbil Post Office interview private transport. telephone Christmas 2008. Most demand is for week- interview ends from individuals, couples and groups Imbil Library Face to 3 internet connected computers available seeking entertainment. Most clients use the Gympie face for community use in the library. These are service so they don’t drink and drive. Regional interview well utilised. Service cost is a flat rate of $1.70 per km. Library opening days and hours are:

Person and Consultation Key Issues Person and Consultation Key Issues Organisation Format Organisation Format Council Library Tuesday 9.30am-12.30pm; Wednesday posted to him at 71 Maroo Road Brooloo 2.00pm-5.00pm; Thursday 9.30am-12.30pm; 4570. Friday 2.00pm-5.00pm Steve Burgess Telephone The Dagun Community Group meets Page | 55 Judy Kenworthy Telephone 12 meals on wheels clients- the numbers Dagun Interview monthly and holds a monthly community Meals on interview vary slightly but mostly around 12. Community BBQ. The Dagun community has no Wheels Many use the Jessie Witham Day Centre Group passenger transport (other than the school transport service (buses and volunteer bus on the Mary Valley Highway). Dagun is drivers) Gympie. Many older residents about 14kms from Gympie and Steve continue to drive around the towns (some suggests that cycling is a viable option for into Gympie). More active aged use the many Dagun residents accessing Gympie. Thursday Shoppers bus to Gympie. Ann O’Donnell Telephone First Responders will rarely transport people A resident Mary Valley nurse would assist the Imbil First Interview in their own vehicles. If the QAS instructed a aged care in the communities. Responders First Responder to transport a patient, it may Generally an ageing community though Group be to a site where a helicopter can land to some new people as more rental properties airlift the patient. First Responders provide since the QWI acquisitions of properties for first aid until the Ambulance arrives. The the dam. ambulance could come from Gympie, Pomona or Cooroy, depending on where Carol Cordell Telephone Is some evidence of social disadvantage the available ambulance is located. First Red Cross interview though, many don’t present at Red Cross for responders are resident across the Valley assistance. More likely to access Lifeline in and the ‘on call’ responder has the Kandanga. equipment. The Imbil First Responders Group covers the whole of the Mary Valley. Rebecca Nolan Telephone Operated 2 bus services from Carters Ridge Bus operator interview to Cooroy. Both buses are fully committed Maroochydore Telephone The QAS non-urgent medical transport is for though, some seats are available daily. Communication Interview eligible patients to be transported by Occasionally, public passengers travel Centre passenger vehicle (not an ambulance) to though this is not openly encouraged due to Queensland medical appointments. The service is free to lack of regularly available seats on the Ambulance Queensland residents and must be referred school runs. Service by the Doctor. Has noticed lower socio-economic families If a person is unable to drive their own moving into the area. vehicle due to a broken arm etc, then the ambulance service can assist (call 000). Arnold Henzel Telephone The Imbil Youth Group is a small group of Col Huddy Telephone There are no permanent residents at the Imbil Youth Interview young people who meet regularly. The Interview Deer Farm. The area is serviced by the Group (Brooloo) group has been supported by the Taskforce Deer Farm with funds to assist the transportation of school bus and Col is aware that many young people to events and activities. travellers would prefer a one-way ticket on Without funding support for transportation it the Mary Valley Rattler, not a return ticket to is likely that the youth group will be limited to Gympie as they are using the Rattler as a one trip per year (such a ten pin bowling form of transport to the Mary Valley. excursion). Arnold said information can be

Person and Consultation Key Issues Person and Consultation Key Issues Organisation Format Organisation Format Transport some communities such as the Mary Valley. Manager- Taxi The taxi subsidy could be applied to the Subsidy Review Splash Bus given the unique circumstances Penny Ford Telephone Main Roads has a cycling policy (check the (no contracted taxi service, Splash Bus is Page | 56 Main Roads Interview website for details). The Principle Cycle Way demand responsive and wheelchair Network did not extend to accessible transport service. (was for SEQ only) but the Main Roads officers agree that the Mary Valley Highway would be part of a principle cycle way network in the Gympie region. All Main Road upgrade projects will introduce wide shoulders to facilitate cycling. Cyclist warning signs for drivers are not encouraged on Main Roads where there are not many cyclists as drivers are likely to disregard these signs. Mary Valley Telephone The service is one way or return and can be Heritage Interview a half-day or full day tour, depending on the Railway Service days. Check the website for full details.

Michael Telephone The taxi subsidy review could consider a Morgan Interview relaxation of the $25.00 per fare (half of a Queensland $50.00 metered fare) limit for the subsidy considering the long distances of travel in

Attachment 2 Dagun and District Questionnaire

The Mary Valley Show Society is undertaking a passenger transport study to identify ways to improve passenger transport for Mary Valley residents.As part of the project, the project Page | 57 officer (Laurel Johnson) is seeking information from Dagun and District residents about their households and their transport needs. By completing this survey, you will provide the project with valuable information about residents and their transport use in the Northern area of the Mary Valley. Your survey response will be grouped with other responses and the results will not identify you or your family. Please return your survey to Elaine at the Post Office by Friday 19 September and contact Laurel Johnson if you have comments or questions on the survey or the project. Thank you for your participation

1. How many people live in your household?

1 2 3 4 5 >5

2. How many people in your household are aged between 0 and 16 years?

0 1 2 3 More than 3

3. How many people in your household are 65 years or older?

0 1 2 3 More than 3

4. How do you mostly travel to work? (please tick more than one if you use more than one mode to travel to work)

Drive (include motorbike)

Get a lift

Get the school bus

Catch a taxi

Walk or cycle

Other way (please describe) ………………………..

Don’t work outside of the property

5. Where do you mostly work?

Home Gympie Amamoor Kandanga Imbil

Other place (please describe) ……………...... Page | 58

6. Does anyone in your household EVER catch the school bus? (you can tick more than one)

Yes (school students) Yes (non-school students) No

7. Does anyone in your household EVER catch the Thursday Shoppers’ bus?

Yes No

8. Does anyone in your household EVER use the Splash Bus?

Yes No

9. If you didn’t have access to a vehicle, how would you get around?

I’d stay home

I’d get a lift with someone

I’d walk or cycle

I’d catch the school bus

I’d catch a taxi

Other way (please describe) ………………………………………………

10. Do you have any ideas or suggestions for ways to improve the passenger transport services for Mary Valley residents? (all ideas are welcome)

Attachment 3 Mary Valley College Student Focus Group

Page | 59

Attendees : A selection of 13 x year 7, 8, 9 and 10 Mary Valley College students at Imbil- participants were self selected (Mrs Grogan and Mrs King also attended) 14 August 2008

Summary of Notes:

• Students rely heavily on parents and others to drive them to • The Sunshine Coast (particularly Noosa and Maroochydore, part-time employment, social and sporting events and in particular Sunshine Plaza shopping centre) is a desirable activities. destination for social activities for the focus group participants. • Most participants had internet access at home though they all agreed that face to face contact for social and other • Gympie was not generally a preferred location for social activities was more desirable than internet ‘chatting’. activities for the older (year 10) focus group participants.

• Some students use the Splash Bus for local trips (shared with • Students expressed awareness that they are missing out on friends to minimise cost). opportunities such as dance classes and netball participation through a lack of transport. These • Many students thought the Splash Bus was ‘too dear’ for opportunities are provided in Gympie. Gympie is also the them. closest gym facility. • Most of the year 10 participants have part-time jobs and • Driver training is in Gympie (training companies won’t drive most of these jobs are in the Mary Valley towns. to the southern Mary Valley to collect students for lessons). • Some students (males) indicated that they cycle to visit • There is a driver training program in Year 12 (Gympie friends (up to 8 kms) and parts of these trips are on the Mary schools). Valley Highway. Other students indicated that they walk to jobs and friends in the towns. • The students indicated that they are keen to get their licences and own cars

Attachment 4 Government Subsidies for Passengers

Name of Scheme Provider Details Eligibility Page | 60 Veteran Affairs Travel Department of Veterans’ Affairs Reimbursement for travel to an approved health Eligible veterans and widows Reimbursement Commonwealth provider.

Mobility Allowance Department of Education, Payment for travel for persons with a disability People over 16 years with disabilities who are Employment and Training accessing employment or training. unable to use public transport and who work over 8 hours a week

Free Rail Vouchers Queensland Rail Four free one-way rail vouchers a year for the travel Pensioners train.

Queensland Department of Emergency Ambulance transport door to door to non-urgent Physical or behavioural issues prevent public Ambulance Service Services health appointments. transport travel

Patient Travel Subsidy Queensland Transport Subsidised travel and accommodation for patients Patients who need to access essential Scheme (PTSS) (and sometimes their carers) to access essential specialised medical services that is not specialised medical services that are over 50kms from available within 50kms of their nearest public the nearest public hospital. hospital.

Travel Warrants Department of Veterans’ Affairs Limited free train travel vouchers. Totally and permanently disabled war veterans

Taxi Subsidy Queensland Transport Half rate taxi travel. Persons unable to use public transport due to particular medical or disability impairments.

Travel Pass for Vision Queensland Transport Free public transport. Legally blind persons Impaired

Public Transport Queensland Transport Half price travel for bus, rail. Children, full-time students, and pensioners Concessions with identification cards

School Transport Queensland Transport Free bus travel for full-time primary students residing Full time primary and secondary students Education Queensland (special more than 3.2kms from the nearest school and full- residing a distance from their nearest school. Education students) time secondary students residing 4.8kms from the Children with a disability attending school. nearest school. Free travel for special needs students to schools.

Education and Training Department of Education, Funding available to support the transport of students High School Students attending training Reforms for the Future Employment and Training to training venues and work-based training. Can be venues or work-based traineeships. (ETRF) funding reimbursement of private travel costs or transport hire.

Attachment 5 Youth Transport Services and Initiatives

Service Name Service Description Who is Eligible Frequency of Costs Limitations Partners Page | 61 Service

BAT (Byron BAT hires buses for groups of Groups of 8 or more, As required by Small fare charged. BAT Young people need Department of Transport Area Travel) young people to travel for at least 50% to be groups does not own buses so, to be organized for ($23 000 pa) Bus social outings. 12-25yoa no bus costs, drivers are more than 8 to travel. Tweed Byron Ballina volunteers, small wages No short notice Community Transport for coordinator. possible.

LaTrobe Provides a range of transport Those with no other Demand responsive, Volunteer drivers are Difficulties recruiting LaTrobe City Council Coordinated options for people with transport access as required by used. 3 workers are staff locally. Department of Human Community disability, frail aged, youth, travellers. employed. Services (funding) Transport rurally isolated, socially Travels to medical disadvantaged or LaTrobe Valley Ministerial and employment Taskforce (initiative) unemployed. Project will services become a coordination point for all transport with touch screens and call centre.

Blue This was a 9 month trial that Young people Determined in Split between operator Not recurrently Transport provider (50% Mountains was not recurrently funded. consultation with and the scheme funded. funding) Youth Bus Young people identified the young people Blue Mountains City Pilot bus route and agreed the Council (50% funding) $1.00 fare per trip. The bus connected to the railway and Youth Suicide Prevention youth destinations such as the Network (auspice) ice rink and other requested Student representative locations. councils

Wimmera VET A bus that transports young High school students Two runs each week Government funded Students previously School focused youth Bus people to Vocational accessing VET (on VET days for high had to rely on parents service Education and Training (VET) venues. school students). for transport to Local learning and venues. education and employment network training. No limitations for VET bus identified. Regional youth committee Department of Education and Training Schools and the 4 Shires

Service Name Service Description Who is Eligible Frequency of Costs Limitations Partners Service

Transport A transport access activity for Job seekers and job A pilot project that is Weekly travel passes for Not a transport Sydney Area Consultative Access for job seekers in job poor network providers in transferable. all participants. service, but a ‘joining Committee Job Seekers Western Sydney to access the a group. Transport access packs- up’ and information Job Network Providers Page | 62 job rich areas in Eastern customized information service with specific Sydney. A half-day excursion for participants such as target group (job on public transport for job relevant timetables and seekers in areas of network staff and clients. transport information Western Sydney). (walking, cycling, bus and train services).

Hawkesbury Increased access to out of Young people, A ‘drop home’ bus Cab Charges offered Hawkesbury Community Youth hours transport services for young mothers and from the Saturday for return journeys only Transport Service Transport young people and young the disabled night disco. after events or Youth Transport Advisory Project mothers including the Bus hire service for activities. Committee disabled in the Hawkesbury youth groups as LGA. needed. Cab charges for young people in isolated areas to travel home after events.

YOWI (Youth Subsidised transport for young Young people 12-25 Demand responsive. Small fares, YOWI pay Does not operate Northern Rivers on Wheels people aged 12-25 yoa in the yoa Bookings to the 20% of the fare. during school hours Community Transport Ink) Lismore LGA, generally in coordinator who Total YOWI budget is (unless Principal, (auspice) groups of 10 or more. The identifies the $25 000- 40% wages, parents approve the Transport NSW (funding) service does not own vehicles, travel) best/cheapest travel admin and 60% bus hire. it hires vehicles, sometimes option for the group. self-driven by the group. Mainly travel is to theme parks, sporting events, sleep- overs, movies etc

Victorian Provides access for young Young people in School bus times. Conveyance allowance Only applies to spare Highlands local learning Youth Access people engaged in accredited for young person in seats on free school and employment network Bus Initiative accredited education and education and education/training buses Department of Education training to spare free school training. and Training (State) bus seats.

Service Name Service Description Who is Eligible Frequency of Costs Limitations Partners Service

Central Coast A mentoring program for Young people (15-19 As required by the Nil to traveller Insurance issues and Dusseldorp Skills Forum Link Lift Pilot volunteer drivers who are then yoa) who are young person and appropriate linked with young people (15- engaged in training negotiated with the introductions for the Page | 63 19yoa) who are transported and work (including volunteer driver. young person and to employment, training, volunteer work) mentor-volunteer volunteer work experience. driver.

Drivin’ 4 A learn to drive program (cars Young South Sydney 10 participants per No cost to the Limited to10 people Participants referred by Employment and forklifts) for young people Council residents program limits the participant. per program. local youth agencies, aged 17 to 24. The idea is without a license frequency Centrelink, JPET and job provide opportunities for and/or those placement networks. employment of young people seeking a forklift South Sydney Council in industries where drivers or license. forklift licenses are essential.

Bega Valley A late night bus service for Any traveller, though 7.00pm to 4.00am $2 for the traveller. Summer school Bega Valley Shire Council Shire Summer travel in the summer holidays. the focus is on during summer Wallet size transport holidays only. Bega Valley Shire Youth Bus young people’s school holidays. It is information cards to all Council destinations. an extension of the high school students. existing bus run. Local bus operator Department of Transport

Dubbo Taxi People aged 12-17 years can 12-17 year olds. Demand responsive, $5.00 maximum paid by Trial service that is to Dubbo City Council Voucher Trial buy taxi vouchers from the if taxis available. traveller for up to $15.00 be evaluated, other Taxi company Dubbo Neighbourhood worth of travel. groups want access to Centre for $5.00 to cover fares the vouchers. Dubbo Neighbourhood of up to $15.00 on the 60km Centre zone.

Taree The Taree Community Youth organizations. Demand responsive Subsidized hiring of Need youth service Department of Transport Community Transport Organisation transport for youth with an interest in Taree community Transport provides transport on request services. Youth transporting young transport organisation to youth organizations. organisations pay a people to events etc. Taree youth services small fee for the Focus is school transport. holidays.

Coffs Harbour A bus service through three Any travellers, One service on a $3.00 for the traveller. One service only. Department of Transport Saturday bus communities to Coffs Harbour though introduced Saturday. Limited options if you Coffs Harbour Youth service (and return) on Saturdays. at request of the miss the return bus. service Morning drop off and youth service for afternoon return from Coffs young people. Local bus operator Harbour.