Hansard of the Legislative Council
Thursday 19 June 2008
Special Interest Speech

WEST TAMAR COMMUNITY CAR SERVICE

[11.15 a.m.]
Mr FINCH (Rosevears) - I have spoken recently about the concept of Tasmanian communities and their role in caring for those who, for various reasons, have hit hard times.  I have also highlighted the challenges emerging in our society because of the changing economic factors and especially increasing fuel prices.  These factors warrant careful scrutiny and a new way of looking at how we as community members deal with those who are facing problems. 

Most Tasmanian communities have complex support mechanisms.  One part of that support system is little recognised but has been highlighted in my electorate by a review of the West Tamar's community car service.  The West Tamar community car provides a service for those people who can demonstrate a genuine need for transport help, live in an isolated area with no other reasonable means of transport and are experiencing a compassionate or temporary crisis situation.  Of course there are people throughout regional Tasmania, Madam President, who fit that bill. 

The West Tamar community car service became a council issue when the West Tamar Council took over management of the service from Community Transport Services Tasmania in May 2007.  This was done in collaboration with the Beaconsfield District Health Service and with the agreement of volunteer drivers.  The council resolved to continue the service but to conduct a comprehensive review this month.  The Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources is also undertaking a review of community transport services and it is hoped that this will result in a strong State Government commitment to this vital regional service. 

The council's review involved a questionnaire that was distributed to the 100 or so users of the community car service in my electorate.  Of the 32 responses returned - and I suppose that is a pretty good result, 32 out of 100 - 28 were compliments, two were suggestions - I will not go into those - and two were complaints which have been addressed.  The 15 volunteer drivers reported that they were happy with their roles and also with the management of the service.  It is not always that your volunteers agree with the way things are run.  They may have suggestions or their own ideas.  But in my community the volunteers were happy with the management. 

The operation of the community car service fits well with the objective of the council's strategic plan, 'to enhance the development of the community by identifying needs and providing support'.

Mrs Rattray-Wagner - And also the State Government's social inclusion policy fits perfectly.

Mr FINCH - Absolutely.  And in my electorate this is a very well-used service.  The West Tamar community clocked 45 500 kilometres in the year to May.  It made 470 trips to Launceston and 90 local trips.  Most trips were for medically related services and almost all the clients were aged over 65, suggesting the service helps older people to continue to live in their own homes even in isolated areas. 

It does not cost a great deal to run this important community service.  The operating loss in the current financial year was only $7 500.  There are donations and cost recovery helped the service, although, as I mentioned earlier, rising fuel costs have meant there has been an increase in fares.  But it is only $20 for a trip the length of my electorate, which covers Greens Beach to Launceston, and that to me seems reasonable. 

Madam President, it is obvious that without community car services in regional Tasmania many older people would not be able to stay in their own homes and would have to move to centres and to institutions where health services are close at hand.  This would place an additional cost burden on the Government so community car services are cheap at the price.  They greatly benefit the morale and wellbeing of older people in regional areas and, most importantly, in the case of the West Tamar service, it welds the community together with the participation of local government.  I am pleased that the council this week have seen fit to continue the service.  They have considered the review of the community car service and they will continue the current arrangements for a further three years.