Local government crucial to future of Augusta-Margaret River public transport options

[Pelican Press 0]

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Local government crucial to future of Augusta-Margaret River public transport options

The latest investment in public bus services for Esperance has lead to reinvigorated calls for greater investment in public transport for the Augusta-Margaret River shire.

News last month that a trial of bus services in Esperance would trigger permanent public transport was queried by local pundits including Legalise Cannabis WA candidate Melissa D’Ath who is also a Shire of Augusta-Margaret River councillor.

The Times understands local government backing was crucial to the Esperance success story, with the Shire the majority fund partner of the trial which gathered data and measured support for two years before the official decision was backed by Transport Minister and WA Treasurer Rita Saffioti.

Calls for public transport featured consistently in Augusta-Margaret River Shire consultation and councillors have also argued it would be the way forward for the town’s congested CBD.

Yet the Shire contributed just $5000 to last summer’s beach bus pilot program – co-ordinated by Cr D’Ath before she took up her council seat.

Shire president Julia Meldrum said the Shire’s new lobbying committee was a mechanism “to advocate effectively on public transport”.

“The summer beach bus trial received funding via our 2023-24 Community Development and Events grants which provided $145,000 to a range of initiatives, which all make a valuable contribution across our community,” she said.

“We have $800,000 in our 2024-25 budget to invest in community events and projects that align to the diverse priorities of our residents and improve the quality of life of everyone living in our shire.”

Speaking to the Times as a State election candidate, Cr D’Ath said she was encouraged by the Esperance trial’s positive outcome for residents.

“I personally would love to see the viability for a full-time service tested in the Margaret River region, given our every increasing population and tourist numbers, linking up all the hamlets and even up to Busselton,” she said.

“Even without the need for full-time service, it would be good to see just a small percentage of the State’s funds spent on the Metronet project – total cost projected to be over $11.5 billion – distributed to the region for an alternative to PTA-provided services.”

PTA spokesperson David Hynes said if the popularity of any private bus service could be proved, the existing status quo could be reconsidered.

“Regional town bus services are established in towns where there is sufficient demand to establish a public transport service within the area,” he said.

“Residents of Margaret River looking to travel outside the area have access to Transwa coach SW1, which operates between East Perth and Pemberton.”

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