It has been widely reported that a lack of accessible and affordable transport options have a direct impact upon an individual’s health and wellbeing. An individual living with that are available to the wider population. Transport disadvantage limits, and at times precludes, the options to access health, education, employment, social, cultural and leisure activities as well as other essential services.

“Transport disadvantage is therefore, potentially, one of the key precursors to unemployment, personal and family stress, ill health, and personal crisis.“ (ACOSS/NRMA 1995).

Continued work with the sector over the last 12 years has revealed four key areas:

• Integrated transport planning.
• Transport awareness.
• Service provision and accessibility
• Local & State Government policies

The Evidence

Integrated Transport Planning Currently, there are a range of processes varying from ad hoc to draft policy/procedures to none in place in LGA’s across the Region. The Department of Planning has developed a draft Integrated Land-use and Transport Planning State Environmental Planning Policy process; however, this has not yet been gazetted.

Transport Awareness

At a community level transport awareness, not only around availability, but on affordability and concession entitlements are very limited. Community services are also often unaware of how to access information on the transport options available to clients. Unfortunately, a number of programs and projects are put in place without consideration around the provision of transport information to the community. This, quite often, exacerbates the problems, and can exclude participation to those who would most need the services.

Service Provision & Accessibility

Out of hours transport is a major issue across the Region. The major urban centres of Lismore, Ballina, Byron Bay, Grafton and Tweed Heads have limited weekend services; however town to town services are non existent except through the Kirklands and Blanch’s services. School holiday services in the majority of villages are also not available. Additionally, the majority of Aboriginal communities are located outside of urban areas and have even less available transport options than other villages.

Local & State Government Policies

There is no clear mechanism for transport planning across the Region or even in individual Local Government Areas. Without adequate planning transport disadvantage continues to be entrenched through the location of services, inadequate infrastructure and a lack of understanding of the community’s transport needs.

Current & Proposed NRSDC Actions

Integrated Transport Planning

• Development and implementation of an Integrated Regional Transport Plan.
• Gazetted transport planning processes for each Council across the Region.
• Advocacy for transport planning at a local, Regional and State level.

Transport Awareness

• Continued development of the Going Places transport information site, include Tweed Shire information.
• Lobbying for a commitment from each Council on transport promotion tools.
• Involvement and assistance with transport promotion initiatives in Clarence, Byron, Lismore and Tweed LGAs.
• Advocacy for the development of a Regional transport promotion.

Service Provision & Accessibility

• Identification of transport gaps and information dissemination to relevant agencies.
• Continued lobbying for more accessible services to be available across the Region.
• Work with the Ministry of Transport’s Bus Reform processes to enhance service provision, accessibility and community consultation.

Local & State Government Policies

• State Transport Development Workers Network involvement in Government planning processes and policy development.
• Development and implementation of a Statewide voice for transport development through the Transport Development Network.
• Continued work within each local Council to ensure transport and transport disadvantage is addressed within planning and policy frameworks.
• Advocacy for community consultation and involvement at all levels in reviews, policies and other projects across each LGA.

More Information

• Northern Rivers transport information www.goingplaces.org.au ; www.131500.com.au/countrytransport/
• Transport Disadvantage in Aboriginal Communities - Download
• Submission to the Ministry of Transport’s 2005 Concession Review - Download
• Integrated Land Use and Transport Planning information - download from Transport Publications section
• Transport Development Workers Network (draft position paper and induction kit) - Download