MOUNT Gambier residents will face “broad and varying” taxi fares when council’s by-law expires next month, according to Lake City Taxis’ Perri-Anne Rasmussen.
Despite Mount Gambier City Council formally resolving to take no further action to reinstate the by-law in September, Ms Rasmussen addressed new elected members at the December monthly meeting.
In a last-minute address to council before the by-law expires on January 1, Ms Rasmussen warned of “broad and varying fares” and a loss of a 24/7 service.
She claimed the subsequent loss of around the clock taxi services would result in a rise of drug and alcohol affected drivers.
Ms Rasmussen also cautioned a free market could see licence holders lose their assets, as well as suffering hits to superannuation and investments.
“At the end of the day, the pool of fares are available on Friday and Saturday nights,” she said.
“You open it up, you put more taxi operators out and there is a reduction in busy time fares.”
As a result, she claimed increased participation would undermine existing services.
“The busy time no longer offsets your quiet time,” she said.
“We will find ourselves in a deregulated environment, where taxis need no licence, no set fare and no requirement to operate 24/7.
“Many vulnerable people in the community need a 24-hour service.”
Councillor Ben Hood quizzed Ms Rasmussen on her claims, asking her to explain why the city would lose a 24/7 service.
He said he was aware of at least one taxi operator seeking an application to run 24/7.
Ms Rasmussen said in a deregulated market, operators could apply for an around the clock licence, but were not obliged to run 24/7.
The legislation that permitted council to make its taxi by-law was revoked in 2016 – removing council’s power to regulate the city’s taxis after the current by-law expires on January 1.
Mount Gambier’s unique regulated system sees the council set taxi fees, operating hours, undertake annual taxi and meter inspections and deal with service complaints associated with taxi operators.
It is the only council in South Australia with regulations on taxis.
In a statement earlier this year, council chief executive Mark McShane said council would liaise with current licensed taxi operators and the transport department to work through the transition.
“Taxis operating within the city will still compete for customers like any other service industry and will make their own business decisions with regard to the service they provide,” the statement said.
