Nine pilot projects
In July 2003, Transport Connections funded nine pilot projects across Victoria. Eight of the nine pilot projects were located in rural and regional areas, with the remaining project (Hume Transport Links) based in an interface council area on Melbourne’s fringe. These pilot projects were funded until June 2007, when the expanded Transport Connections program was established.
Read the evaluation of the nine pilot projects.
Bass Coast Transport Solutions
The lead organisation was the Bass Coast Shire Council. The project targeted the Bass Coast shire with links to the South Gippsland Shire. It aimed to create a transport network by building in transport solutions to Bass Coast community sector needs, with the objective of increasing overall use to improve sustainability and viability. This project built on the achievements of the Creatively Connecting Communities demonstration project. Find out more about the
Bass Coast Transport Connections Project.Getting Around – A Sustainable Transport System
The lead organisation was the Macedon Ranges Shire Council. The ‘Getting Around’ project aimed to use a community building approach in two rural shires (Macedon Ranges and Mount Alexander) to map usage and transport resources in order to lay the foundation for the future development of transport and to improve linkages between existing transport options. Pilot or short-term schemes were used to trial improvements to existing services and innovative approaches with the aim of then establishing sustainable intra-shire and inter-shire transport networks (no brokerage component). Find out more about the
Getting Around project.Golden Connections
The lead organisation was the Golden Plains Shire Council. ‘Golden Connections’ targeted remote townships and key disadvantaged groups (older people, people with disabilities and young people) in a municipality with a dispersed population between two regional cities. Throughout the shire public transport is limited to peripheral boundary roads leaving few options for residents. The Golden Connections project complemented existing services by making better use of transport resources such as council and school buses through a coordinated transport program. Find out more about the
Golden Connections project.Hume Transport Links
The lead organisation was the Link Community Transport in partnership with Brotherhood of St Laurence, Craigieburn. ‘Hume Transport Links’ addressed transport issues in Hume, a rapidly growing outer suburban city characterised by no electrified rail services and only very circuitous bus routes. The Project aimed to improve local knowledge and consultation about transport and to improve coordination of existing transport services (both public and community). It included brokerage activities to extend the use of ‘special purpose’ transport, and to build a strong community transport model, through recruitment and training of volunteer drivers, extending the vehicle seeker website, and stakeholder representation. The establishment and operation of community transport bus stops for community transport vehicles was an important component of the project.
Let's GET Connected – Gippsland East Transport Project
TThe lead organisation was the Wellington Shire Council. ‘Let’s GET Connected’ was a joint initiative between Wellington Shire Council and East Gippsland Shire, two of the three largest shires (geographically) in the State, both with extremely limited transport infrastructure. The project’s overall aim was to develop creative sustainable solutions to transport disadvantage, within a capacity building framework. This was achieved by facilitating a comprehensive bottom up model, coordinated by two part time project officers. This Project proposed a ‘can-do’ approach with innovative trial projects, involving local community participation and ownership. It included earmarking of brokerage funds to ensure that small local projects get off the ground (including implementing mapping processes, information kits, and support to local project development and implementation). Find out more about
Let's GET Connected project.Southern Mallee Transport Connections Project
The lead organisation was the Gannawarra Shire Council. The ‘Southern Mallee Transport Connections Partnership’ developed, managed and coordinated sub-regional and local transport solutions across the rural municipalities of Buloke, Gannawarra and Swan Hill. The project promoted a single point of entry for the coordination of transport information, the strengthening of links with transport operators and the development of sustainable community solutions. The partnership drew on the previous experiences of the Gannawarra shire transport strategy, as well as existing knowledge and networks of its participating members. It was committed to addressing access, mobility and transport disadvantage across an isolated area of rural Victoria known as the ‘Southern Mallee’.
Two Rivers Transport
The lead organisation was the Western District Health Service. This project focused on improving access to transport in the two relatively small towns of Casterton and Port Fairy located on the Glenelg and Moyne rivers respectively. Although supported by the South West Community Transport program, their existing resources were very limited. This project included brokerage funding that increased access to transport for those not able to afford full costs of commercial transport. The project helped to develop sustainable local community transport systems and to integrate the services into the wider regional network. Find out more about
Two Rivers Transport.Valley to City efficiently
The lead organisation was the Upper Hume Community Health Service. ‘Valley to City efficiently’ aimed to build sustainable transport connections for the Mount Beauty and Kiewa Valley communities of the Alpine shire to the Albury–Wodonga regional centre. The project focused on community development and building strong service management links to ensure seamless service provision. It emphasised development of a sustainable partnership transport model involving the private and public sectors. The key target groups for the integrated transport programs were older residents of the valley who need access to the regional centre for medical, specialist and social needs, and young people who need regional access for employment, recreation and educational purposes. The model was supported by all stakeholders in Mount Beauty and the Kiewa Valley and will link into the Community Managed Transport program in Albury–Wodonga. It had the additional benefit of utilising existing resources more fully and supporting local small business to recover and be sustainable following fire and drought.
Wimmera Transport Connections
The lead organisation was Wimmera Volunteers Inc. The Wimmera Transport Connections pilot project covered the shires of West Wimmera, Hindmarsh, Yarriambiack and Horsham Rural City. The project proposed flexible solutions for communities experiencing transport disadvantage and social isolation, through better use of existing resources, development of new approaches and enhanced coordination. It involved transport facilitation, brokerage, training, information and empowerment to create local culture change and systematic change at a local and state wide level.
Contact Transport Connections for more information.
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