1978 VICTORIA ,. •• TRANSPORT REGULATION BOARD • ANNUAL REfDORT 1 FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH JUNE, 1978. f • PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAME~T PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE TRANSPORT REGULATION ACT • Ordered by the Legislative Assembly to be printed. l By Authority- F. D. ATKINSDN, GDVERNMijNT PRINTER, MELBOURNE ,' No. 48.-11735/78-PAICE $1.40 , Cnr. Lygon and Princes Streets Carlton 3053 The Honorable Robert Maclellan, M.L.A., Minister of Transport Melbourne 3000 Dear Mr. Minister, We have pleasure in submittin-g to you for presentation to Parliament in accordance with the provisions of Section 14 of the Transport Regulation Act the Annual Report of the Board for the year ended 30th June, 1978. The Report highlights the more significant aspects of the work performed by the Board and personnel of this Administration during the year. Yours faithfully A. V. C. COOK, Chairman. P. R. HOCKING, Member. K. P. SHEA, Member. C. J. V. SMITH, Secretary. The Honorable J A Rafferty, B.A., F.A.I.M., MP, was appointed Minister of Transport in 1975 and held this portfolio until his recent appointment as Chief Secretary. The Board records its appreciation of the support and understanding received from Mr Rafferty during a period of significant change in transport, and wishes him well in his new portfolio. Mr J 0 Mactier retired on 30 June 1978 after completing almost 15 years as a highly dedicated Member of the Board. He was appointed to the Board on 28 July 1963 as the Member having a primary producer background. Mr Mactier's involvement as a primary producer was centred in the Metcalfe district. Mr J 0 Mactier Mr K P Shea was appointed to the Board on 1 July 1978. He is a primary producer from Ararat where he was active in hospital and community affairs. Mr Shea was a director of the Victorian Farmers Union in finance and admin­ istration, and was Chairman of the Economic, Taxation and Transport Committees. The Board's senior management team underwent major changes during the year with the retirements of Mr H Sheahan (Secretary). Mr L G Anderson (Deputy Secretary) and Mr FE Edmonds (Assistant Secretary- Administration). Each had given many years of loyal and conscientious service to the Administration. BOARD K. P. Shea A.V.C.Cook P. R. Hocking (Member) (Chairman) (Member) SECRETARIAT Secretary C. J. V. Smith Deputy Secretary W. R. Key Assistant Secretary {Administration) R. G. Jacobs Assistant Secretary {Operations) T. H. Nougher EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Accounts P. L Golden Administrative Services J. W. J. Larman Costing and Financial Analysis G. V. Smithwick Goods Services J. H. Pimm Passenger Services F. B. Lindsay Planning and Research J. V. Vucic Road Charges A. M. McPherson Technical and Field Services M. Stewart REGIONAL OFFICERS East Gippsland Region {Bairnsdale) N. F. McQuinn Central Highlands Region {Ballarat) A. L. Stott Loddon Region {Bendigo) R. V. Wood Barwon Region {Geelong) J. F. Humphrey Glenelg Region {Hamilton) A. A. Blaby Wimmera Region {Horsham) L. W. Hoare Mallee Region (Mitdura) G. W. Lindsay Gippsland Region (Morwell) M. D. Quinn Upper Goulburn Region (Seymour) P. Martin Goulburn Region (Shepparton) W. J. Hoey Corangamite Region {Warrnambool} R. C. McDonald Upper Murray Region (Wodonga} R. H. Pitcher PROFESSIONAL OFFICERS Legal J.R. Connell Engineer - Vehicle Safety and Design J. Middlehurst CONTENTS Page LEGISLATION ADMINISTERED 7 YEAR IN REVIEW New and Amending Legislation Ministry of Transport {Passenger Services) Act 1978 8 Magistrates {Interstate Enforcement) Act 1978 8 Transport Regulation Act 9 Stamps Act 1958 9 Goods Transport Regional Freight Centres 9 Overnight Express Services 10 Inquiry into Goods Movements and Access 10 Tow Trucks 11 Bus Transport Financial Assistance Scheme 11 Bus Fares 12 Concession fares for pensioners 12 Operator accounts 12 Information on Services 12 Changes in Bus Services 12 Rationalisation of Private Bus Services 13 Urban Bus Services 13 Replacement of Country Rail Passenger Services 13 Demand Responsive Bus Services 14 Airport Bus Service 15 Interstate Bus Services 15 Knox City Shopping Centre 16 Melbourne to Mt Baw Baw Service 17 Bus Operations to Snow Resorts 17 Service to Restaurant .. 18 Public Transport in Developing Areas 18 School Bus Services in Gippsland 18 Taxis Metropolitan Taxi Licences 19 Taxi Fares 19 Inquiry into Melbourne's Taxi Services 19 Survey of Taxi Performance 20 External Advertising on Taxis 20 Bourke Street Pedestrian Mall 20 Drivers' Certificates 20 Road Maintenance Contributions 21 Enforcement Two-Way Radio communication 21 Subterfuge Border Hopping Operations .. 21 "Tow Truck Enforcement Action 22 Investigations, Offences and Prosecutions Road Maintenance 22 Other 23 Vehicle Inspection and Safety Annual Inspections 24 Vehicle Inspection Facilities 24 Inspection of Interstate Buses 24 Random Inspection of Trucks .. 24 Insecure Loads 24 Overheight Loads 24 Speed Limits for Heavy Commercial Vehicles 24 Parking of Heavy Vehicles in Residential areas 24 Removal of Folding seats from Buses 25 Driver Protection Screens in Taxis 25 CONTENTS -continued. Page Private Omnibus 26 Motor Boats 26 Finance 27 External Contact and Studies Annual Conference of Road Transport Authorities 29 Contact with Authorities and Industry .. 29 Representation on External Committees 29 Study and Survey Projects 29 State Disaster Organisation 29 Administration 30 LICENSING Commercial Goods Vehicles Responsibility to license 31 As of Right Licences .. 31 Discretionary Licences 33 Tow Truck Licences .. 34 Country Services 35 Distribution of Licences 37 Licence Fees .. 38 Permits 40 Commercial Passenger Vehicles Responsibility to License 42 Licensing Procedures .. 42 Types of licences 43 Number of Licences issued 44 Licence fees 45 Number of Operators, Licences and Routes 45 Country Services 46 Changes to Bus Services 49 Suburban Taxi Depots 51 APPENDICES General Statistical Data 1 Revenue and Expenditure 52 2 Licence Fees Collected .• 54 3 Comparison of Fines, Costs and Convictions 55 4 Summary of Fines, Costs and Convictions 56 5 Summary of Offence Reports 59 6 Motor Boat Registrations 60 7 Motor Boats Registered and Revenue Collected 61 8 Monthly Statistics · Metropolitan and Urban Bus Services 62 Summary of Uniform Financial Return Data 9 Industry .. 63 10 M~tropolitan 64 11 Urban 65 12 Country 66 13 Metropolitan Charter 67 14 School Services .. 68 TAXIS 15 Taxi Survey 69 LEGISLATION ADMINISTERED THE TRANSPORT REGULATION ACT 1958 establishes the Board as a corporate body and gives it its charter, powers and duties in relation to the road transport industry. lt provides for commercial passenger vehicles to be licensed at the discretion of the Board and for private buses to be licensed. THE COMMERCIAL GOODS VEHICLES ACT 1958 provides for certain classes of goods vehicle licences to be issued "as-of-right" to applicants and for other applications to be granted or refused at the Board's discretion; this latter group includes tow trucks. Road maintenance contributions are collected by the Board under powers conferred by the Commercial Goods Vehicles Act. All decisions of the Board for discretionary licences are subject to review by the Governor in Council where objection has been lodged or by the Minister where there is no objection. THE TRANSPORT CONSOLIDATED REGULATIONS 1977 complement the powers conferred by the Transport Regulation Act and the Commercial Goods Vehicles Act. THE MOTOR BOATING ACT 1961 requires the Board to maintain a register of motor boats and to collect the registration fees payable by motor boat owners. The Board also collects stamp duty on new registrations and transfers as provided for in the Stamps Act 1958. OTHER LEGISLATION under which the Board has specific responsibilities:- Ministry of Transport Act 1958 Motor Car Act 1958 Motor Car Regulations 1966 Road Traffic Act 1958 Road Traffic Regulations 1973. 7 YEAR IN REVIEW NEW AND AMENDING LEGISLATION LEGISLATIVE ACTION during the year the maintenance of proper standards of included the passing of two A}:ts of Pari iament comfort and convenience for passengers; which will affect the Board's operations. and These Acts are the Ministry of Transport (Passenger Services) Act 1978 and the the efficient use of public moneys made Magistrates (Interstate Enforcement) Act available for transport purposes. 1978. The Metropolitan Transit Council may of its THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT own volition, and must if requested by the (PASSENGER SERVICES) ACT 1978 Minister of Transport, report to the Minister amends the Ministry of Transport Act 1958 on any matter which might be made the by establishing the Metropolitan Transit subject of ministerial determination of policy Council. The Council will consist of:- within the criteria listed. The Director of Transport (Chairman} THE MAGISTRATES (INTERSTATE ENFORCEMENT) ACT 1978 is an amend­ The Chairman of the Victorian Railways ment to the Magistrates (Summary Pro­ Board ceedings) Act 1975. lt is designed to remove the "loop-hole" in the law which enables The Chairman of the Melbourne and interstate registered transport companies to Metropolitan Tramways Board evade payment of road maintenance contributions. The Chairman of the Transport Regulation Board, and For the Act to achieve effectiveness, there will be need for complementary legislation in Four persons appointed by the Governor the other States and the Commonwealth, and in Council. significant progress is being made in this regard. The Minister of Transport may, in accordance with the new provisions, make determinations The Act provides that where a company has of policy in relation to fixed route passenger been convicted of an offence in another State transport services available to the public in and a director of that company is a resident the Melbourne metropolitan area on any of, or is known to be in Victoria, the con­ matter that concerns:· viction or order of the court in the other State may be registered with the Clerk of the the effective co-ordination of services; Melbourne Magistrates' Court with a request that the conviction or order be enforced.