Shellharbour council resolved to “transition out” of the service at a meeting on February 24 and leave the future operation up to Wollongong City Council (WCC).

Under the current contract Shellharbour and Wollongong councils deliver the service which is funded by Transport NSW. 

Transport NSW has assured users that the current level of funding would continue “directly to WCC” under a new contract for the period of November 2015 to 2017.

However, the future of community transport remains unclear, as WCC advised that they had not yet received or seen details of the new or extended contract, which would ultimately determine its future.

Currently, buses pick up the frail aged or people with a disability from their homes and take them to various activities, groups and outings in the region. 

Albion Park Rail resident Marie McFadgean said the elderly community heavily relied on the service and felt as though it was a “kick in the teeth”.

“A lot of these people have no other means of transport,” she said.

“We don’t know what is going on and who will end up operating the weekly buses. 

“Twelve of us have walkers, they can’t easily get around and it’s the only way most of us can get out of the house. We can’t afford, and  most of the time, can’t access, regular means of transport.

“It will severely disadvantage these elderly people. For most of us, it is that only connection we have with the community.”

Another regular user Betty Patterson said the impact would be greatly felt.

“We don’t have any quality of life if we don’t have these outlets. It gives us something to look forward to in our older years,” she said.

Six Shellharbour councillors voted to “transition out” of the service on the basis that the need for the service had “diminished” because “more services continue to enter this competitive market”, and a result of funding changes to Home and Community Care (HACC) and the proposed National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Shellharbour Mayor Marianne Saliba said changes to the funding model for HACC were at the heart of the council’s decision.

“Funding allocation is changing to person-centred funding as apprised to block funding to service providers, which means individuals will be able to buy their services from whomever they chose. Which will mean that our clients will gradually leave us,” she said.

“The HACC services … will die by a thousand cuts because while it doesn’t cost council to provide the services it will become a financial impost when we have staff and assets that are not being utilised.

“There has also been a decrease in the number of people able to volunteer.”

Volunteer bus driver of twelve years Bob Mulder said the introduction of restrictions would give him no other option but to quit his volunteer work. 

“I have to have three medicals and a driver’s test every year to be a bus driver,” he said.

“I’m 75. I do this because I love it and I get so much enjoyment seeing the smile on their faces.

“I pick them up, walk them to their door and it will end up having a dramatic effect on the people who otherwise wouldn’t leave the house and if they privatise it, it will cost too much for pensioners.”

Senior Citizen of The Year Dorothey Dean coordinates a seniors group Day Club and said the group numbers would dwindle down to five maybe 10 per cent.

“For the people that came to Day Club, it’s the only opportunity they have to talk and mingle with others,” she said. 

“Being a Senior Citizen of the year doesn’t mean a thing if it’s all just token and words. Seniors don’t seem to matter at all.”