Moving Regional South Australia
June 2003 Volume 1, Issue 2

Address from the Executive Director
Welcome to the second issue of 'Moving Regional SA’ - a quarterly newsletter keeping you up to date on regional passenger transport issues.

It is with great excitement that the Murray Mallee is moving!! (see article below). This has been a tremendous achievement in integrating the transport needs for health, education and the general community.

As we need to use resources more efficiently and meet increasing community expectations, the integrated approach encourages better use of resources to deliver more responsive services to the community.

This approach relies heavily on working together across federal, state and local government to focus on improved service delivery for the customer.

The commencement of services for the Murray Mallee has also coincided with the release of the broader vision for transport - South Australia’s Draft Transport Plan.

This recognises the importance of regional passenger transport, particularly the need for an integrated approach and coordination of government funded passenger transport.

Now is a time to continue advocating for regional passenger transport and to support the services developed by regional communities. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for working together so well.

Moving the Murray Mallee
After over two years of hard work, services arising from the Murray Mallee study have now commenced or are about to commence. Forty three services covering the Coorong, Southern Mallee, Karoonda East Murray and Mid Murray areas have established Moving the Murray.

Mid Murray Coaches Swan Reach to Murray Bridge every Monday and Thursday Contact Mid Murray Coaches: 08 8570 2093

The first services commenced in September 2002 for the Coorong. Services have also been implemented in the Karoonda East Murray on 29th April 2003.

The new services include weekly services linking Karoonda with Murray Bridge and the Riverland, services for daycare and options and one specific service focussed on social inclusion for the youth and elderly.

Services for the Mid Murray commenced on the 2nd June 2003. Services for the Southern Mallee are expected to commence in July 2003.

With the exception of the Mid Murray services which is provided by Mid Murray Coaches and Barossa Valley Coaches, Coorong Coaches were the successful tenderer for the remaining Murray Mallee services.

The Murray Mallee Integrated Transport Plan has been the result of collaborative work with the Murray and Mallee Local Government Association, the Murray Mallee Strategic Task Force, the Murray Mallee Community Transport Scheme, the Department of Education and Childrens Services, the Department of Human Services, the Murray Mallee Aged Care Group, Murray Bridge Passenger Service and the District Council of Karoonda East Murray.

This study has provided a useful and relevant template for future studies. The Public Transport Division would like to thank all those involved, especially the local community for their input and support.

Integrating Education in the Coorong
A key element of the integrated transport plans is integrating the transport needs across the community, including health and education.

An example of a service that integrates educational needs with the community, is the Coonalpyn via Meningie and Tailem Bend to Murray Bridge service provided for the Coorong Council area.

This service operates each weekday during school terms and twice a week during school holidays to provide transport for students and the communities living within Coonalpyn, Meningie, Wellington, Jervois, Woods Point and Tailem Bend to access schools and other services in Murray Bridge.

However this service is not restricted to school students and is utilised by the broader community for a range of activities.

This service has a strong social inclusion role by enabling people to access services and opportunities they might not otherwise have been able to. In May 2003, two trips were by adults, eight trips by unemployed persons and eleven trips by pensioners.

Coorong Coaches, who operates the service said that the service is increasing in patronage and is utilised for various activities including accessing TAFE in Murray Bridge, unemployment services and for social reasons.

They also commented on the service linking with Murray Bridge Passenger Service so people can travel through to Adelaide.

For further information about this service and the many other services provided by Coorong Coaches, they can be contacted on (08) 8571 1208
or contact the Murray Mallee Community Transport Scheme on (08) 8572 4288.

Unity College Bus Stop
Murray Bridge

Local Updates

Provincial City Services
These are bus services operating within each of the six provincial cities of South Australia being Mount Gambier, Murray Bridge, Port Pirie, Port Augusta, Whyalla and Port Lincoln. Each council funds one third of operating losses. Cabinet recently approved the tendering of the 6 provincial city services.

The new contracts will be held with the Public Transport Division and will specify ongoing community consultation and service development in maintaining community focussed services. The new arrangements will allow OPT to bring passenger transport contract management experience to the services whilst enabling council to focus on the essential community advocacy role and local decision making.

Gawler Integrated Transport Study
The Gawler Integrated Transport Study commenced in May 2002 governed by a Steering Committee comprising of Gawler, Light and Barossa Councils, Gawler Health Service, the Barossa Regional Community Transport Scheme, the Public Transport Division and local community representatives.

A needs analysis was conducted through community consultation workshops with education, health, local business, government services and local transport operators. Transport services were developed based on a fixed route model. However following public community consultation, the need for a more flexible service that gave a greater level of service provision whilst balancing with government resources led the Steering Committee to propose a demand responsive transport model.

The proposal is for a pre booked dial-a-ride service operating between 9.00am-3.00pm seven days a week with a 7.00pm-10.00pm service Monday to Friday using an accessible small passenger vehicle. This is an exciting new concept for passenger transport in South Australia and will enable the people of Gawler to travel door-to-door at a low fare of $2 for adults and $1 concession per trip.

A public meeting was held on 11 June with around 100 people attending. There was a general positive view of the concept from the community with strong support from Council and the Gawler Health Service. There has also been considerable interest from neighbouring councils and like townships.

The Public Transport Division
The Public Transport Division (OPT) is a statutory authorityestablished by the State Government in 1994 to plan, regulate and fund South Australia’s land-based passenger transport.

Mission and Vision:
The OPT will work to improve land passenger transport services for the benefit of the South Australian community.

The OPT's vision is for integrated and accessible passenger transport services that respond to the diverse and changing needs of our customers.

These services are viable for providers, reduce the environmental impact of travel and provide many other benefits to the community.

"Moving Regional South Australia" is distributed to Local Government, Community Passenger Networks, Commercial Passenger Transport Operators, District Superintendents of Education and Regional Health Managers.

TO BE ADDED TO THE DISTRIBUTION LIST PLEASE CONTACT NATASHA QUIST ON (08) 8303 0887 OR VIA EMAIL:
natasha.quist@sagov.sa.gov.au

CPN Spotlight - Riverland

Barry Phillips and Denise Sourbis from the Riverland Community Transport Scheme

Since the inception of the Community Passenger Network in the Riverland in 1998 over twenty thousand passengers have been assisted with their transport requirements. Being transport disadvantaged in the Riverland is a situation that many people do not realise is a reality. Having a dedicated and committed team of volunteers who undertake all of the driving is the key to the success of the Riverland Community Transport Scheme. The administration of the service is co-ordinated by Barry Phillips and is ably supported by Josie Koch and trainee Denise Sourbis.

With three vehicles in the CPN fleet there are very few days when the rostered drivers are left idle. Medical appointments are by far the main reason for transport assistance with visiting, shopping and government appointments also in demand. Of the Riverland towns, Berri is the main destination due to the high number of Government Agencies as well as the Riverland Regional Hospital.

With a population of over 33,000 people, the Riverland has a very high multicultural flavour with passengers of Greek, Turkish, Italian and Indian nationality forming part of the non-English backgrounds that are frequently transported. Working closely with the local Riverland Taxi Services has been a priority of the CPN with many intra-town trips being referred to them on a day-to-day basis.

Currently there is an integrated transport study being undertaken to address the needs, gaps, etc concerning transport or in many cases, the lack of throughout the Riverland. The 12 month strategy will encompass a broad consultation process with the aim to improve the provision of transport for many residents of the Riverland and Mid-Murray region.

Josie, Sye (Volunteer), Norm (Volunteer) and Barry.

The Riverland Community Transport Scheme is administered by The Berri Barmera Council and has an Advisory Committee consisting of representatives of the three Riverland councils as well as other community organisations.

Further information about the Scheme can be obtained from Co-ordinator Barry Phillips telephone (08) 8582 1922.

Article written by Barry Phillips

Page last updated on March 23, 2005