Wollondilly Shire Council is looking for expressions of interest from local community groups interested in owning this Mitsubishi Rosa 21-seater bus.
With a new community transport service now in operation, the council’s community bus was recently decommissioned from service.
Council hopes the old bus will find a new home with one of the local community groups.
The 15-year-old vehicle will be gifted to the successful group following a competitive expressions of interest process, which is now open.
In January 2022 an annual service review of the community bus service was undertaken to better understand the changing needs of the community and usage of the community bus vehicle.
Council endorsed a change in the service structure, resulting in the need to retire the current vehicle.
“Wollondilly Council has committed to continuing to provide a community transport service for our growing and changing community,’’ says acting mayor Matthew Deeth.
“We are now providing a new model that will directly fund third-party providers so community groups can use the service.
“This updated model means that eligible Wollondilly based community groups can use suitable third-party transport services, with council footing the bill up to the value of $500 per trip.
“After 15 years of service, the old bus has been decommissioned and council has decided that whatever life the bus still has in it should be put to good use.
“I encourage any community groups who are interested in taking on ownership of the bus, and who think they have a good use for it, to submit an expression of interest now,’’ Cr Deeth said.
Submissions must be in before 5pm, Tuesday, May 2. For more information on how to apply, head to Council’s website https://www.wollondilly.nsw.gov.au/events-andcommunity/community-bus/mitsubishi-rosa-expression-of-interest
