Access to public and community transport

Public transport in rural areas is a joke. With the municipality being 100 kilometres from north to south, a third of the population are isolated.

There needs to be a concentrated effort to provide commuter access to the many school buses that service Wangaratta's secondary school system. There needs to be a way for visitors arriving by train to reach their final destination in rural areas. Our ageing population needs public transport to access basic health services as required. Most of all, we need community consultation before decisions are taken otherwise we will suffer the fate of the King Valley community.

Last November, the State Government promised a thrice weekly bus service linking the King Valley to the Hume region. The DOI, RCoW and O&K Health Services devised a pseudo-public transport service to meet this need. It was expected to be in operation this month but we have had no further news.

The scheduled Monday service will be reserved for Ovens & King Health clients and only the extra seats - if any - will be available to the public. None of the three services will service the railway station.

---

RCoW November Council Meeting Business Paper
Item 10.2.3 HUMAN & CULTURAL SERVICES
10.2.3.1 TRANSPORT CONNECTIONS PROGRAM
Community Development Information/Issues 68 010 002

---

Background
The Department for Victorian Communities (DVC) has recently announced funding for a Transport Connections 2007-10 Grant Program. The program aims to help local communities find practical solutions to enhance existing transport services by creating partnerships between community organisations, transport
providers, business and local government.

Access to public or community transport has been consistently raised as an issue in consultation with older people, people with disabilities, young people and financially disadvantaged people living in rural communities.

The Transport Audit undertaken by Council in early 2006 indicated that there were gaps in service delivery and a need for greater community awareness of what transport services do exist.

The Program has a budget of $14.15 million and an allocation of $120,000 on average will be available for each project, with the expectation of about 30 projects in regional Victoria and metropolitan interface areas. It is anticipated that each project will cover two to three local government areas and DVC appears keen to ensure the whole state is covered.

Each grant will fund a community development position who will work within the community to address identified issues. Their role is not to coordinate transport services, but to work together with transport providers and the community on flexible solutions. Brokerage funding of up to $10,000 is also available to trial solutions for identified gaps. The model is based on nine pilot projects funded three years ago, one of which was located at Mount Beauty.

As a result of the project at Mount Beauty, the Hume Transport Forum was established. Membership includes transport providers, community agencies and local government in Alpine, Indigo and Towong Shires, the City of Wodonga and the Rural City of Wangaratta. Council has been actively involved in this Forum.

Issues
Our Transport Audit and community consultation have identified gaps in access to transport. As part of the ongoing enhancement of existing services, it is important that Council play an active role in a local partnership applying for Transport Connections funding Expressions of Interest close on 1 December 2006 for the first round of available funding.

The natural transport catchment for the Rural City includes the Ovens and King Valleys, Beechworth, Yarrawonga and, to some degree, Benalla and Mansfield.

We have also had discussion with Benalla Rural City, Mansfield Shire and approached Moira Shire regarding the development of a project in this catchment.

While some work appears to be occurring in these areas, it does not appear to be at the same level of readiness as that being undertaken by the Hume Transport Forum.

Council has also been approached to be a partner in a large submission being developed by the Hume Transport Forum, where a strong partnership and knowledge of the program already exist. As this submission covers five local government areas within the Forum, the model may not be permitted under the DVC guidelines.

To ensure the Rural City is covered by the program, it would seem appropriate for Council to continue to support the submission being developed in Upper Hume (the Hume Transport Forum). This would cover Wangaratta, the Ovens and King Valleys, and areas adjacent to Indigo Shire. Council should also continue to build a partnership with Benalla Rural City, Moira and Mansfield Shires to ensure links to all areas within this catchment. This may involve a second partnership or alternatively a second stage expanding on the Hume Transport Forum project.

Consultation
The Program and Expression of Interest have been discussed with transport providers and community agencies within the Rural City all of whom give in principle support to an application. This has also been discussed with the Hume Transport Forum and our neighbouring councils.

Implications
Council Plan Objectives
The Council Plan has an objective of working in partnership with other agencies to advocate for flexible transport options to support identified needs.

Community Outcomes
The Rural City has an ageing population which will increase the need for public transport in the coming decades. This project provides additional resources to support flexible responses to existing gaps and enhance services in the future.

Financial Impact
The Transport Connections program is funded by DVC and there are no financial impacts associated with this matter, although continued input from Council Officers will be required.

Recommendation:
That Council:
1. support the submission of an Expression of Interest for the Transport Connections 2007-10 Program.
2. support continued liaison with the Hume Transport Forum, the Benalla Rural City, Mansfield and Moira Shires to ensure partnerships and the development of a model or models which cover the whole Wangaratta transport catchment.

Communication
Council will communicate its decision to the Hume Transport Forum, Benalla Rural City, Mansfield and Moira Shires and local transport providers and community agencies.