MOUNT Gambier City Council will take no further action to reinstate the city’s taxi by-law when it expires on January 1.
The legislation that permitted council to make its current taxi by-law was repealed by State Parliament in March 2016.
Cr Steve Perryman tabled a motion at council’s monthly meeting to advise the state transport minister of councils decision to “come into line with the rest of the state”.
Mount Gambier City Council is currently the only council in South Australia that regulates taxis under by-laws.
While the council resolved in February to allow the taxi by-law to lapse, stakeholders have continued to lobby council to find a loophole in the legislation to replace the by-law and maintain its current licensing scheme.
“It is pretty obvious from discussions and previous resolutions over the last 12 months or so that council is quite okay with what is transpiring,” Cr Perryman said.
“As we have not resolved this and put a full stop on it, it’s still open to conjecture.
“I know a few members think this motion is ‘poking the bear’ but I see it as putting a full stop on the matter – it’s final and unambiguous.”
Cr Perryman moved that a letter be sent to the state transport minister, advising the council acknowledges the legislative changes that removed its power to regulate taxis.
“Council no longer wishes to regulate taxis following the expiry of the taxi by-law on January 1 and no further action will be taken to pursue any legislative amendments to reinstate taxi regulating powers to the council,” the motion read.
Cr Des Mutton endorsed the motion, agreeing it was time to formalise council’s decision.
“I am happy to second the motion and I agree with Cr Perryman,” Cr Mutton said.
“It’s a good thing to put this matter to bed because that’s the direction we want to go – let’s finish it.”
Mayor Andrew Lee also agreed it was “time to put (the issue) to rest.”
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.
From January 1, the State Government will be responsible for ensuring all passenger transport drivers, vehicles and services operating in Mount Gambier do so in accordance with the Passenger Transport Act.
