City of Wanneroo is applying for funding for bus stop shelters.
Camera IconCity of Wanneroo is applying for funding for bus stop shelters. Credit: Supplied/Robin Kornet

City of Wanneroo seeks funding for bus stop shelters

Laura PondNorth Coast Times

THE City of Wanneroo is seeking funding to build shelters at eight bus stops.

Councillors at the October 11 meeting supported the City’s recommendation that the stops be submitted through the Public Transport Authority’s (PTA) Bus Shelter Grants Scheme.

The accompanying report listed the cost of installing a bus shelter as $11,000, which meant the City could create five per year, and with half of the cost covered by the PTA under the scheme, it could install nine to 10 shelters.

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To qualify, stops require an average minimum of 15 boarding passengers per weekday.

The report said the City determined sites based on patronage, width within the road reserve, sight lines affecting property crossovers and intersections and affect on adjacent residents.

It found 15 stops that were suitable but following consultation with residents and the PTA, withdrew support for three and listed four as reserve projects.

During the process, the PTA reviewed its funding capacity because of the State Government having “reviewed expenditure and cut funding across all departments” in the 2016-17 financial year and said it would contribute subsidies for five to six qualifying shelters per financial year then reassess with remaining funding in late 2017.

The report said the City had allocated $60,000 as part of its 2016-17 capital works program for the projects and expected it could install six co-funded and two municipally funded shelters.

“Should PTA increase the funding in the third and fourth quarter of the financial year, the City will be able to install 10 to 11 bus shelters in 2016-17,” it said.

“While the City would like to encourage public transport use by providing facilities at all bus stops it is committed to achieving the best result for all public transport users by funding those bus stops with the highest patronage which also attract 50/50 grant funding from PTA.”

At the previous week’s briefing session, Councillor Domenic Zappa questioned the equity of the approach, suggesting coastal areas and new developments were receiving most benefit.

“There are older suburbs in the central and south wards that do meet patronage quotas and could do with a bus shelter,” he said.

“I’m trying to figure out what’s a more equitable approach.”

In 2013, council supported the “ongoing practice” of prioritising sites that met the PTA’s grant criteria and assets director Harminder Singh said the City was in the process of creating a formal policy before the next applications process.

Bus stops part of funding application, in priority order

Waldburg Drive after Yandella Promenade, Tapping

Ocean Keys Boulevard after Verrado Way, Clarkson

Wyatt Road before Gungurru Avenue, Hocking

Ocean Keys Boulevard after Lower Keys Drive, Clarkson

Yandella Promenade after Castledine Way, Tapping

Joondalup Drive after Elderiana Link, Banksia Grove

Glasshouse Drive after Micrantha Way, Banksia Grove

Hollington Boulevard before Halesworth Parade, Butler