Night owl bus get reprieve

Gosford Council has resolved to continue to operate the Night Owl Bus on its Ettalong, Umina, Woy Woy to Gosford and return route on its current timetable.

Council has also resolved to continue to pursue a proposal to have the Night Owl Bus service routes included in the routes to be serviced by bus companies when the Ministry of Transport draws up the new area operating contracts for the Central Coast.

Wyong council recently declined to provide $25,000 funding to the service, stating it was not local government's responsibility to provide bus services to the Central Coast.

But the council did unanimously resolve to support the service continuing.

Funds available to operate the Night Owl Bus service, jointly initiated by Gosford and Wyong councils, were expected to be exhausted by February 26.

Gosford Council has continued with its commitment to contribute almost $25,000 to the Night Owl Bus service to cover 50 per cent of the anticipated shortfall created by a cessation in RTA funding.

A review of the ongoing viability of the Night Owl Bus service was recently undertaken.

The Ettalong to Gosford route had a weekly revenue of $770 and a total cost to operate of $1545, with similar deficits for other routes.

Suggestions to reduce the trading deficit included variations to routes and timetables, an increase in licensed venue contributions and attracting private sponsorship.

A report from Gosford Council stated that minor variations to add or subtract licensed venues serviced by the Ettalong Beach, Umina, Woy Woy to Gosford and return route were possible but appeared likely to achieve very little in either increased patronage or venue revenue.

It also stated that, as the Gosford to Ettalong Beach and return service was hourly and involved a single bus circulating continually, a variation in timetable did not appear feasible.

The report stated that "past endeavours to identify a cost sustainable basis for operating a Night Owl Bus service on any route within Gosford City or Wyong Shire have been unsuccessful".

"Action by way of varying routes, increasing licensed venue contributions or attracting private sponsorship all appear likely to be unsuccessful" the report stated.

The report stated that "the action endorsed by both councils to have the Night Owl Bus service included in the NSW Government local service contract(s) appears the most likely avenue in retaining the service in the longer term".

Council agenda CIT.18, March 7