Local and State Government backing crucial to new public transport for Augusta-Margaret River shire

Support from the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River will be crucial to considering any new public transport initiatives for the region.

A spokesperson for Transport Minister Rita Saffioti this week confirmed it was looking at the successful trial of the summer beach bus program started by local business woman Melissa d’Ath, who has ambitions to return the bus in Easter and next summer as part of a three-year program.

Yet at the same time, WA’s Public Transport Authority has told the Times it’s not considering any new measures for the Augusta-Margaret River shire mostly because it still lacks the population density needed to make regular transit services feasible.

Shire sustainable economy and communities director Nick Byrne last week said the local government’s $5000 contribution to finish out the bus season included gathering more information around “next steps” for the service.

“The beach bus aligns with the purpose of the grants which is to support innovative solutions responding to local issues, and to strengthen community connection and wellbeing by promoting participation and access and inclusion,” he said.

Ms d’Ath told the Times she wrote to the minister as part of a plan to secure greater funding security for the service for the sake of families and teenagers getting to the beach during holidays now that parking and access were harder than ever.

“An Augusta, Witchcliffe, Margaret River and Cowaramup route linking all the hamlets and beaches in our region would be the ideal,” she said.

Shire president Julia Meldrum said the bus had her backing, but public transport had to be led by the State Government.

“Assistance from the State for a more comprehensive public transport program would be incredibly valuable to our regional community,” she said.

However, the prospects for a regular service akin to Busselton’s route to Dunsborough was looking like an uphill battle.

PTA spokesman David Hynes said the authority had “no plans to extend regional town bus services into Margaret River in the immediate future”.

“Regional town bus services are provided only in towns where the population and urban density have reached levels sufficient to drive the demand required to establish a public transport service,” he said.

“This is not yet the case in Margaret River, so any form of public transport in the town would be unviable at this stage.

“If a private bus service is reinstated and is deemed sufficiently popular among users, an assessment into the viability of a regional town bus service in the area may be considered.”

The minister’s office said although the State Government placed a “high priority” on students’ access to “safe, adequate and affordable travel options,” Ms d’Ath’s proposal would be examined.

“Any decision to implement a new service would be made on a case-by-case basis following assessment of a range of criteria, including whether the project has the support of the relevant local government,” the spokesperson said.

Mr Hynes also noted any regular bus service would see the orange school bus program cease and the Dunsborough bus was a unique service designed for students travelling to Busselton.