THE future of the taxi system in the region continues to cause a stir throughout the community following announcements of the by-law lapse which is set to come into play early next year.
While the legislation that permitted council to make its current taxi by-law was repealed by State Parliament in March 2016, local resident Perri Rasmussen believes council should search for a loophole to replace the by-law and maintain its current licensing scheme.
The avid campaigner has collected over 700 names on a petition in an attempt to lobby Mount Gambier City Council to retain its current taxi by-law.
In February this year, council resolved to allow its taxi by-law to lapse when it expires in January 2019.
When the by-law expires, council will no longer regulate taxi fees or operating hours, undertake annual taxi/meter inspections or deal with service complaints associated with taxi operations.
At council’s February meeting, Ms Rasmussen highlighted the potential for the city’s 24/7 taxi service to collapse under state regulation.
“I believe council has the ability to find some kind of loophole or workaround to make a by-law for the good governance of the people and they need to find a way,” Ms Rasmussen told The Border Watch.
“There is a reason council fought to keep the by-law all this time when other regional councils allowed their by-laws to lapse and I don’t understand what has changed.”
She said it was unlikely the city’s taxi services would continue to operate 24/7 once the current regulations ceased.
“It’s just not viable to have drivers out between 9pm and 4am on a Monday night, but for those four or five people that are picked up during those times the 24/7 service is vital,” Ms Rasmussen said.
“My concern is council has not planned anything in terms of public transport if taxis no longer operate 24/7 – they have not announced anything about improvements to the bus system for example.
“Uber is not legal in South Australia at this point, but many people have said this could open the door for Uber.
“Uber drivers will operate when it suits them during peak times, but what about locals who need a lift after hours Monday through Thursday?”
Mount Gambier City Council is currently the only council in South Australia that regulates taxis under by-laws.
Ms Rasmussen said she intended to present the petition to elected members at this month’s full council meeting.
Council’s governance and property manager Michael McCarthy said council administration would continue to liaise with licensed taxi operators and the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure for the transition to an unlicensed regime.
“At its February meeting, council noted that it no longer has the power to replace the current/expiring taxi by-law,” Mr McCarthy said.
“Council has resolved, should the taxi industry wish to do so, to support the taxi industry to lobby the State Government for improved state-wide regulation and oversight of regional taxi services.”
