Email: wccc@dynamite.com.au

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Jeff Carl, Deputy Chairman, welcomed Guy Thurston CEO and Beth Hobson of ACTION, the committee and members of the public.

Apologies were received from Ken and Sue Galvin and Bob Sutherland

The Annual Audit report was tabled at the meeting. The audit showed that of the $3,000 received, $1,157 was expended and $1,753 was in the bank. The annual return can now be lodged with the Registrar of Associations.

Guy Thurston provided an outline of the impact that the bus route and timetable changes had made. There was an overall trend line increase of 4% in passengers from a 20% increase in services. This was in contrast to other cities which were experiencing declines. The age group least likely to catch a bus were 18 to 25 year old females. The availability of second cars at $13,990 was also proving a difficulty for bus patronage. The comparison of bus fares and car parking costs is constantly an issue in bus usage. The decline in bus usage in the preceding 2 years was 15%. Minor changes will be made in 2 weeks on 13 September. The reliability of timings of bus travel times within a bus route is of concern and is affected by traffic flows and traffic volumes.

In Weston Creek issues of concern were seen to be Badimara Street where the previous route 211 needs to be re-considered. Also Weston Creek night services need to consider the capacity versus the number of passengers. Within ACTION budget changes with the staff agreement has had a $7M effect. ACTION met the budget target although the target was a negative.

ACTION was disseminating information on timetable changes as printed material. However, 27% of homes have the Internet; and approximately 90% of people have Internet at work and this was by far the easiest way of disseminating timetable changes.

Mr Thurston opened the meeting to questions from the floor; Jeff Carl mediated this.

• Night services - will the 2 hour gap be removed? - Yes but the number of services will not be increased - it will be a re-scheduling of services.
• Why do the buses appear to leave Woden at the same time?
• The cost of children’s travel (non-school travel); after a certain number of children in the one family travelling; why can’t the fares decrease?
• The number of direct services out of Weston Creek needs to be increased - can it?
• The re-design of Route 211 has had the effect that some houses are now more than 1km from the nearest bus stop, can this be re-considered?
• Use of the Senior’s Card is limited to the time of the day by ACTION - it needs to be able to be used at anytime of the day.
• ACTION needs to accommodate the aged/elderly at all times not just limited to special timeslots.
• Fremantle Drive - there is a disproportionate spacing of bus stops near the Croatian Retirement Village- can this be addressed?
• At bus stops there needs to be a timetable listing for that particular bus stop. Mr Thurston indicated that 500 bus stops had timetable information.
• Access in Corinna Street, it appears too narrow? Mr Thurston advised that ACTION were in negotiations with Woden Plaza on the traffic problems created by the Corinna Street narrowing.
• Cooleman Court Precinct upgrade - will there be changes to bus stops? Mr Thurston advised that the nature and location of bus stops around Cooleman Court would be considered in the upgrade.
• Cooleman Court bus shelter was removed - will it be replaced?
• Are 3/4 sized buses cheaper for ACTION? - yes they are about 3/4 of the running costs.
• Can all ACTION buses be air-conditioned? - Mr Thurston indicated that that as buses are replaced air-conditioned buses are being purchased.
• Route 29 takes a Cook’s tour through Rivett - can it be straighten? Mr Thurston advised that there needs to be a balance between directness and the number of passengers a bus needs to collect to make a viable route.
• Changes in Feb 1996 did not help Weston Creek.
• Is it possible to put bus stops outside Woolworth’s Cooleman Court to help shoppers? - this would need to be considered in any bus stop relocations.
• Buses do travel along Trenerry Street at Cooleman Court although there is a NO BUSES sign.
• Access Buses; route 34 has a problem of not having access buses. - Mr Thurston indicated that like other buses, access buses do need to be taken off the road for regular servicing and therefore need to be substituted with other buses.

As they were no more questions Mr Carl thanked Guy Thurston and Beth Hobson.

Superintendent Chris Lines from Woden Police had followed up a number of issues raised at the previous months meeting.

• The car wrecks at the police compound are there for search and rescue practise. When they are finished with they are removed. Supt Lines advised that an effort would be made to keep the area clean.
• Under age drinking at Rivett. - Patrol cars had been visiting the shops, oval and underpasses and the practise appears to have ceased. Although it is thought that the police presence has only dislocated the youth to another site.
• The bus interchange at Woden is a focus of concern for the safety of the elderly. However the recent cold weather was affecting the behaviour of people at the interchange. When the seasons change the problem is expected to reappear. The move on powers of the police are somewhat limited and actions are not always possible.
• Supt lines would like to remind residents of Weston Creek to improve the security of their houses and especially when they are in the home.

A question was asked about more police patrols; Supt Lines advised that high visibility of police is a strategy that can be undertaken for short periods. It is not a long-term solution as it only displaces the activities of people.

Jeff Carl thanked Supt Lines.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The date of the next meeting would be 22nd Sept 1999

The meeting closed at 9:45 pm