Transport Disadvantage Policy 2017

Transport

Disadvantage Policy

2017

Preamble:

The Transport Disadvantage Policy 2017 is an overarching Policy that will

guide Council’s responses to transport disadvantage in Brimbank.

1.0 Policy aim and objectives

Council recognises the impacts that transport disadvantage can have on people and the

many health and social impacts that can arise from the lack of available and accessible

transport options. Local Government has an important role in leading, partnering and

advocating for improved transport solutions in Brimbank.

The Policy aims to

:

Guide the development of a sustainable transport system in the City of Brimbank.

Support public health, social and economic outcomes for the Brimbank community.

The Policy objectives are:



To inform the development and delivery of affordable and accessible transport

solutions.



To contribute to reducing the nature and extent of transport disadvantage in

Brimbank and strengthen local cohesion.



To provide a platform with which to advocate for increased funding and resources to

strengthen social cohesion and community wellbeing.

2.0 Definition of terms being used

Community transport

consists mainly of services provided by councils and not-for

profit community organisations using cars, minibuses, brokered taxis, or a combination

of these to fill gaps in public and private transport.

Transport disadvantage

occurs when local transport options make it difficult for

people to access services, facilities, programs and employment. This can lead to social

and economic exclusion and can affect the wellbeing of individuals and communities.

Transport disadvantage can be further defined as:

Accessible transport –

means an individual’s overall ability and ease of getting to a

service or activity.

Economic transport disadvantage –

occurs when cost prohibits access to available

transport. It also includes the concept of transport stress experienced by a household,

which is where an unreasonable proportion of household income is absorbed by transport

costs.

Transport Disadvantage Policy 2017

Local social cohesion –

occurs when a community works towards the wellbeing of its

members with the aim of creating a sense of belonging within the community.

Locational transport disadvantage –

occurs when there is very little or a complete

absence of publicly funded transport choices or its scheduling is not frequent enough to

meet needs.

Personal transport disadvantage –

occurs when a person’s mobility is affected by

age (including youth), disability, frailty, poor health or language barriers.

Sustainable transport –

means that Councils actions meet current needs without

compromising the prospects of future generations. This requires Council to incorporate

environmental considerations alongside social and economic values in the decision

making process for sustainable transport options.

3.0 Policy statement and principles

Community transport in Victoria meets the accessibility needs of some people; it tends

to be an enabler of other funded services and programs rather than designated to

broader transport disadvantage in the community. The provision of community transport

is usually a result of an initiative by non-transport services, which recognise that

transport is a basic requirement for service delivery.

For historical reasons, community transport is a marginal transport service characterised

by multiple funding sources and a lack of any effective overall planning or coordination

at either a community level or within government. The Victorian community transport

sector faces a number of significant challenges, which include:



Insufficient funding – for new services and/or to expand existing services to meet the

full service costs and, unlike other states, there is no discrete funding for community

transport services in Victoria which has restricted the growth of services.



Uneven distribution – the availability and standard of community transport services

varies widely across local government areas with many communities having no

access to services.



Inequitable access – only clients of government funding programs are eligible to use

the service.



Narrowly focused

–

typically only transport for shopping, social support services and

medical and health related matters.



Excess capacity/under-utilised

–

distribution and varied ownership of community bus

fleets leads to inefficiencies which could be addressed with a different approach to

service delivery, funding and governance.

The City of Brimbank is the second largest municipality in Melbourne. Many residential

areas are a significant distance from public transport routes and the majority of

industrial precincts cannot be accessed by public transport. With limited transport

choices available to residents, combined with high levels of socio-economic

disadvantage, there is increasing pressure to provide transport services to meet the

transport requirements of the community.

For people living with a disability, young people and older people, many health and social

impacts can arise from the lack of available and accessible transport options. For these

groups the impact may be an increase in social isolation; reduced access to medical

services; limited recreational, educational and sporting opportunities; and, reliance on

Transport Disadvantage Policy 2017

expensive public transport particularly for families on low incomes and newly arrived

communities.

Transport in Brimbank

Transport disadvantage across the city of Brimbank includes:



Limited transport choices available to Brimbank residents, with no trams, limited bus

services and limited cycling and walking tracks which leads to individuals relying on

cars to drive to their destination.



Industrial areas to the south west of Brimbank are particularly poorly serviced. This

has resulted in 92% of people travelling to work in Brimbank by car, with only 4% by

public transport (2011 Census).



Thirty-two per cent of work trips to Brimbank were generated from within Brimbank,

with 47% from neighbouring municipalities. These are relatively short trips that may

be well suited to bus travel.



Two passenger train lines through Brimbank – the Sydenham/Sunbury line and

Melton line. The Sydenham line is one of the most overcrowded lines in Melbourne.

The Melton line is a rural service with limited commuter access into Melbourne.



The current bus network is poor, with irregular services – particularly at night and on

weekends. There are also routes that need extending and creating to provide a viable

option to driving.



Limitations on public transport services place an over reliance on private vehicles,

and households without a motor vehicle can be disadvantaged if they are not in areas

served by good public transport networks.



The bus network can play a key role in the transport network by providing access to

jobs and activity centres. However, the current network is poor, with irregular

services – particularly at night and on weekends, and there are routes that need

extending and creating to provide viable options to driving.

Bus services need to be extended geographically in areas experiencing population

growth. In many areas, bus services need improved frequency and expanded hours of

operation to improve their effectiveness.

In addition, improving linkages and connectivity to the principal public transport network

of metropolitan tram, train and the emerging premium SmartBus services, is a key

requirement

1

.

Community transport provision – Brimbank City Council

Council provides a community transport service for people who are transport

disadvantaged and are unable to travel on public transport due to age, disability, health,

social or geographic isolation or economic circumstances. The majority of people using

the service are older people and people with disabilities who are registered as eligible

through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) or the HACC program

(Home and Community Care).

1

Brimbank City Council, Unlock The Opportunity – Transport Priorities for the City of Brimbank

Transport Disadvantage Policy 2017

The service comprises:



Assisted transport – door to door transport for eligible clients who require

assistance to go shopping, attend social support groups and other community

based programs.



Program transport – door to door transport for eligible clients to attend programs

or services such as Planned Activity Groups, Senior Citizen events, outings and

excursions.

Council has designated a fleet of community transport vehicles which provides the

service.

The following principles underpin Council’s position on transport disadvantage:

As detailed in the Brimbank Social Justice Charter 2012, when planning and delivering

community transport services, Council will ensure:



Access –

Council is actively committed to delivering accessible information, facilities

and services that enable people to participate in community life.



Equity –

Council is committed to equity to increase opportunities for the most

disadvantaged groups in our community to access services and participate in

community life.



Community participation –

Council acknowledges its role to promote democracy

and citizenship at the municipal level.



Human rights and responsibilities –

Council recognises that human rights are

basic entitlements that belong to everyone, regardless of our background, where we

live, what we look like, what we think or what we believe.

Council will act in the following roles to achieve the Policy aim and objectives:

Lead –

Council provides leadership by recognising the needs and aspirations of the

community.

Council’s objective for this action area is:

To promote and advocate for a

responsive, integrated and coordinated transport service for Brimbank. To identify the

needs of transport disadvantaged groups and individuals and partner with stakeholders

to address.

To achieve this Council will:



Review community transport governance options.



Review community transport service types for Brimbank.



Continue to review its Community Transport program to deliver current services

and inform future transport options.

Partner –

Council will actively partner and consult with stakeholders to investigate

solutions to public transport disadvantage.

Council’s objective for this action area is:

To develop partnerships with key

stakeholders (philanthropic, sporting and community agencies).

To achieve this Council will:



Partner with stakeholders to define the role for community transport within the

municipality based on an agreed vision.



Identify future needs for community transport.



Profile current and future users.

Transport Disadvantage Policy 2017



Investigate and seek sustainable funding from the Victorian government,

corporate and private entities.



Seek support from relevant agencies providing community transport to partner

with Council and the community to undertake an integrated local community

transport planning approach.

Advocate –

to Federal and State Governments to improve services, opportunities and

resources for those groups in the community who are most disadvantaged.

Council’s objective for this action area is:

Council will advocate to Federal and State

Governments to improve services, opportunities and resources for those groups in the

community who are most disadvantaged.

To achieve this Council will:



Promote Council’s Transport Disadvantage Policy 2017 and advocacy initiatives

for improved services and opportunities for transport disadvantage.

4.0 Specific requirements

The action areas in the Transport Disadvantage Policy will be implemented by different

function areas of Council over the next four years (2017-2021), in partnership with

identified stakeholders.

An implementation plan for the Transport Disadvantage Policy 2017 will be developed

and monitored on an annual basis.

An evaluation of the Transport Disadvantage Policy 2017 and Implementation Plan will

occur in 2020 to review what was achieved in the context of changes to State and

Federal Policy and legislation, transport disadvantage and socio-demographic trends and

Council’s position on transport disadvantage.

5.0 Related Council Policy

The Brimbank Transport Disadvantage Policy 2017 relates to other Council transport

policies. While these policies are focused on improving transport connectivity and

accessibility across the general community, disadvantaged members of the community

in particular benefit from improvements to sustainable, and more affordable, transport

modes such as public transport, walking and cycling paths. Related Council transport

policies include:

Brimbank Community Plan 2009-2030 (Updated 2013)

Brimbank Council Plan - 2017-2021

Brimbank Social Justice Charter (2012)

Economic Development Strategy (2016)

Unlock the Opportunity – Transport Priorities (2016)

Brimbank Cycling and Walking Strategy (2016)

History of amendment

Rev

Review date

Reason for amendment

Next review date

1 9/08/2017

30/06/2020

Select date

Select date

Approved by council: Yes

Date approved by council: 19/09/2017