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Bus Reform in Country NSW
In February 2004, former Premier and Transport Minster, the Hon Barrie Unsworth, handed down his recommendations for reforming bus service delivery in rural and regional NSW.
The Unsworth Review showed that, across country NSW:
- funding is tied up in an under-utilised fleet;
- in some areas, services are duplicated, while in other areas there are no appropriate services available; and
- rather than taking a region-based approach to service planning and delivery, the State manages over 1,800 separate contracts for bus services in rural and regional areas.
The Review recommended overhauling the contracting, funding and planning approach to the delivery of rural and regional bus services. This will help Government to better coordinate expenditure of public-funded transport subsidies so it can purchase a broader range of services and better meet the transport needs of country communities.
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Rural and Regional Bus Reform Consultative Taskforce
A process to commence development of new contracting, funding and service planning arrangements is now underway.
The Minister for Transport, the Hon John Watkins, has established a taskforce comprising the Ministry of Transport and the Bus and Coach Association (representing the bus industry) to provide advice on options for the implementation of the Government's bus reform objectives.
These objectives include development of:
- performance based contracts incorporating a passenger focus, consistent service standards and mechanisms to ensure continuity of essential passenger services;
- transparent funding arrangements that support value for money, proper allocation of risk and a sustainable industry; and
- effective service planning arrangements which reflect local travel patterns, minimise overlap and duplication and optimise value for Government transport subsidies in each location.
Once these core components have been developed they will be tested through a series of trials over a 12 month period in selected parts of the State.
The pilot projects will then be evaluated and the model contract, funding model and service planning approach will be refined and finalised.
The next step will then be to develop a detailed reform implementation program, involving negotiation of new contracts, for progressive roll-out across rural and regional NSW. This roll-out will most likely start in 2008 and take some years to complete.
Commencement of Average Age Relief for Small Fleet Operators
- Interim Arrangements - Category Shift Payment - 35 kb PDF
- Interim Measure for Average Age Relief Information - 35 kb PDF
- Application Form for Interim Relief from Average Age - 42 kb PDF
Updates for Bus Operators
The Ministry of Transport will be providing all rural and regional bus operators with regular updates on the progress of the reforms. Follow this link for copies of the Rural and Regional Bus Reform Newsletter.
The Ministry also encourages bus operators to have their say about the issues with the current arrangements and make suggestions about how to achieve reform by posting a message for the Bus Reform Team through the Rural and Regional Bus Reform Mail Box (see below).
Have a Say
The Unsworth Review of Bus Services undertook significant community consultation in the preparation of the Interim and Final Reports of the Review and its recommendations.
Following the release of the Review's Final Report, and in response to its recommendations, the Ministry created 11 regionally-based Local and Community Transport Coordinators to work with country communities to identify needs and develop transport solutions tailored to local requirements.
Information obtained by these Local and Community Transport Coordinators will help inform the development of the new contracting, funding and service planning arrangements for rural and regional bus services.
The Ministry also intends to seek input and advice from other stakeholders on the development of the new arrangements through the Rural and Regional Bus Reform Consultative Taskforce and other processes.
In the meantime, comments and suggestions concerning how best to meet the Government's bus reform objectives in country NSW may be submitted to the Bus Reform Team through the Rural and Regional Bus Reform Mail Box.
Rural and Regional Bus Reform Mail Box
The Ministry of Transport encourages comments and suggestions aimed at helping the Government develop:
- A new service contract that can be adapted to the different needs of rural and regional communities;
- A new funding model that reflects efficient costs, links return to operational effort, eliminates the biases in the existing arrangements and recognises income from charter/community work; and
- A fresh approach to planning bus services in rural and regional areas, including integrated transport plans.
The Ministry asks that you provide your details as part of your message in case the Bus Reform Team needs to contact you. Any comments or suggestions you make may be shared with the Rural and Regional Bus Reform Consultative Taskforce or its Working Groups.
However, unless you have given the Bus Reform Team permission, they will not be attributed to you and any detail that may identify you will not be used.
The Bus Reform Team will not take anonymous messages into account.
