Transport
Transport options are an important, ongoing issue for Inland Burnett residents (particularly the North Burnett). If you have low mobility, health issues or no car some residents are virtually trapped inside their own community. This is a problem as most dentists, doctors, community services, retail options, etc... are based outside local communities, especially health and specialty services located on the coast (most North Burnett communities are located 4 hours return from Bundaberg, Hervey Bay and Maryborough - which are the closest coastal centres). BIEDO has been working with the North Burnett community for more than nine years to achieve better transport options (see story below). In the South Burnett, Graham House coordinates several community transport services to address their increasing needs. BIEDO has also released a report to help increase awareness of community passenger transport options in rural areas. The Rural and Regional Community Transport Review looks at three examples of community transport in Victoria, other areas of Queensland and the Inland Burnett.
Little solutions that solve big problems - North Burnett Community Transport
In 2002, BIEDO and Dept of Transport completed a community transport needs survey. The survey showed people who could not drive themselves, for a range of reasons, were chronically disadvantaged in accessing health, employment, advocacy and other services - most of which are located on the coast 2-4hrs drive from most Inland communities. A five hour $80/petrol drive to the dentist is a long and expensive trip!
Despite calls from key stakeholders to purchase large commercial buses to resolve this situation, BIEDO listened to community preferences for small, mobile, flexible, multiple-day, door-to-door pick-up transport services. Working together with government and community partners, two community buses were put on the road. The buses are owned and operated by community groups with volunteer drivers. Administration and bookings in each community are covered by community organisations, local business and local government. Running costs are covered by Dept of Transport. It is an incredible cost-effective service with high community 'ownership" - and therefore sustainable.
Both buses provide weekly services that link every township in the North Burnett with the Bundaberg coastal hospital, regional-Brisbane transport and other health, training and recreational services.
It is the first sustainable community operated public transport system in rural Queensland and the second in Australia. It is regularly booked out with more than 750+ people using the service each year-that's 13% of the regional population!
The service is a flexible service, picking people up at their door and taking them to exactly where they need to go. This allows transport for disadvantaged people in the North Burnett to make appointments in Bundaberg knowing the bus will be there for them. The travellers pay a fee in line with the Patient Transfer Subsidy rates; the bus is almost cost neutral. For further information on the service, please see the North Burnett Regional Council website and look for the "Jena Boran" community transport service.
For information about commercial transport providers in the Inland Burnett, please see Callide Coaches (North Burnett) or Brisbane Bus Lines (South Burnett).
