St Andrews and Panton Hill: Transport Needs Assessment - Public ...

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School Bus ServicesPTV has a comprehensive network of contracted school buses operating close to the assessmentarea provided by Panorama and Bryant Motors P/L (Diamond Valley Coaches). These school busservices can only be used by eligible school children, as determined by the Department ofEducation and Early Childhood Development (DEECD). It is DEECD policy that, to be eligible forfree school bus travel, a student must attend their nearest appropriate school and reside at least4.8 kilometres from that school.The vehicles used for these services have an exemption from the Disability Discrimination Act(DDA) legislation that applies to regular public transport bus services and therefore are not ultralowfloor, accessible vehicles. This means there may be limits on whether school buses can beused for regular route services outside of school hours. Consideration would also need to begiven to upgrading bus stop infrastructure and installing ticketing equipment.There are a number of privately operated school buses that travel within the assessment area.These are provided by schools solely to offer transport to and from that specific school for theirown pupils. These services are chartered privately, therefore not subsidised by government orsubject to PTV jurisdiction.Transport Connections ProgramAn independent study, conducted by Nillumbik Shire Council, advocated for a regular bus servicebetween St Andrews and Hurstbridge. A report on the study was submitted to DOT in mid-2010along with a service proposal for funding under the Transport Connections Program (TCP) for aregular fixed route peak hour public transport service operating Monday to Friday and services onSaturdays and into Saturday evenings.At the time, DOT found insufficient evidence to support the proposal and it did not meet theprogram objectives of TCP. It was found that the costs associated with trialling the service wereexcessive and inequitable when compared to other TCP trial services.Panorama Bus ServiceLocal bus operator, Hurstbridge Bus and Coach P/L (Panorama), which was aware of theCouncil's proposal, commenced preparation for the provision of a service from the assessmentarea to Hurstbridge Railway Station. The Panorama service would have provided 13 dailyservices Monday to Friday and five services each morning on Saturday. Panorama proposedoperating it without government subsidy.Before the Panorama service was implemented DOT informed Panorama that its proposedservice would be a 'regular passenger service' within the meaning of and in contravention of theBus Services Act 1995, if it were operated without the authority of a service contract with theDirector of Public Transport. DOT advised Panorama that a service contract would not be grantedat this time.Panorama then announced in local media that the service would commence on 4 October 2010.DOT reiterated its advice to Panorama that provision of the service would contravene legislation.Subsequently, Panorama decided not to proceed with the service on the day before it was due tocommence.Page 17
2.8 Summary of FindingsThe main findings from this report are: The assessment area has low population density, with the towns of St Andrews and PantonHill the most concentrated populations. However, this is still far below what is considered to beurbanised and would not be expected to sustain a regular public transport service. Zoning restrictions and green wedge land restrict development in the assessment area,constraining future population growth. The community as a whole has not been identified as being socially disadvantaged, asdetermined by the SEIFA disadvantage levels of the area. Many roads in the assessment area are unsuited to bus operations. This limits possible busroutes, potential patronage catchment and stop locations.Page 18
Page 1 and 2: St Andrews and Panton HillTRANSPORT
Page 3 and 4: disadvantage, as measured by the So
Page 5 and 6: 1. IntroductionIn 2010, local resid
Page 7 and 8: 2.2 PopulationPopulation levels in
Page 9 and 10: Figure 4: Population Density (ABS,
Page 11 and 12: Figure 6: SEIFA Disadvantage (ABS,
Page 13 and 14: 2.4 EducationThere are two primary
Page 15 and 16: 2.6 Employment and Travel to WorkTh
Page 17: 2.8 Road NetworkThe main roads in t
Page 22 and 23: Map illustrating the location and i
Page 24 and 25: Survey Results - Weekday travelThis
Page 26 and 27: 3.6 Summary of findings• The surv
Page 28 and 29: Appendix 1Page 27
Page 30 and 31: Page 29

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