Taxi relief in sight for outer suburbs

10/6/04 Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan has moved to improve taxi services for outer metropolitan areas by offering a group of peak-period taxis operators the opportunity to work in specific outer suburbs.

10/6/04
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan has moved to improve taxi services for outer metropolitan areas by offering a group of peak-period taxis operators the opportunity to work in specific outer suburbs.
Ms MacTiernan said unacceptable delays for outer suburban residents, particularly during peak periods, had prompted the State Government to introduce the additional taxi services.
The Government will give 30 non-transferable peak-period taxi operators the opportunity to convert to full-time outer suburb taxis.
The operating areas on offer include:

  • the City of Wanneroo and part of the City of Joondalup;
  • the Shires of Kalamunda and Mundaring and part of the City of Swan;
  • the Cities of Armadale and Gosnells; and
  • the City of Rockingham and Town of Kwinana.
The initiative is part of a three-pronged strategy to ensure outer suburb residents are provided with a level of service commensurate with the remainder of Perth.
The strategy includes:
  • today's announcement of an additional 28 conventional and peak-period taxi plates and 12 multi-purpose taxi plates to be on the road before Christmas and the annual release of 40 new plates;
  • offering 30 peak period taxis the opportunity to convert to full-time outer area taxis; and
  • monitoring service levels in outer areas and, if performance is not improved, releasing more special outer area plates in the next release.
"There is a lot of unmet demand for taxis in Perth's outer suburbs, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights," Ms MacTiernan said.
"I believe we've found a way to improve customer service that will be fair to existing conventional taxi plate holders.
"At all times, taxi operators issued with restricted plates for outlying suburbs must only operate in the designated area - they will need to provide the service both in the peak and non-peak times.
"We will not agree to a system which allows cabs to work in the outer suburbs during non-peaks but abandon the area during peak periods.
"I have written to the 30 peak period taxi operators who were issued with plates in 2000, giving them the opportunity to apply to operate in selected outer suburbs on a full-time basis."
Ms MacTiernan said the outer areas permits would last five years.
"At the end of the five years, operators will have the choice to convert back to being a peak-period operation or continue as a outer area plate operator," the Minister said.
"This initiative is a major step in addressing the legitimate concerns of peak period taxi operators and one that should also help address the ongoing service problems experienced by people who live in the outer suburbs of Perth."
Minister's office: 9213 6400