The State Government is delivering a $140,000 transport funding boost for people with disabilities in the North and Far North of the State.
Member for Mulgrave and Disability Services Minister Curtis Pitt said the funding will enable TransitCare to establish two pilot mobility centres in Cairns and Townsville.
“These mobility centres will serve as a one-stop-shop for people with mobility issues, linking them with disability-accessible vehicles and taxis,” he said.
“Under this initiative, up to 2,000 people with a disability and older Queenslanders in Cairns and Townsville will benefit from around 80,000 extra scheduled trips a year.
“That’s a great outcome for people who need help with transport to remain active in their own communities.
“Getting to the shops, visiting family and friends or doing errands is something many of us take for granted.
“But for many people these things can be a real challenge, and that’s why we’re providing them with this extra support and assistance.”
Mr Pitt said TransitCare’s mobility centre for Brisbane South and Logan residents provides up to 210,000 trips annually to over 5,500 clients and 27 agencies.
“We’re pleased to be extending our already successful partnership with TransitCare to Cairns and Towsnville,” he said.
“This extra funding is being delivered through the joint State-Commonwealth Home and Community Care (HACC) program.
“The State-Commonwealth HACC program, worth $523 million to Queensland in 2011-12, funds over 800 service providers to deliver domestic assistance, personal care, social support, home modifications, transport and respite care to more than 170,000 Queenslanders.”
TransitCare CEO Louis De Beer said: “We believe that the new Community Flyer presents the next step in access to transport for the local community in North Queensland, using a direct interface with the taxi scheduling system and offering the possibility of commercial applications as it may be a blueprint for personalised public transport, with a direct interface in to the taxi cab scheduling systems.
“Our Community Flyer model is personalised to the individual, disability accessible and provides a solid infrastructure to utilise for future developments in localised shared transport and provides a future possible direction in green eco transport options for North Queensland.
“That is why we are delighted that Minister Pitt has supported this initiative by approving funding for a pilot project to look at the feasibility of such an infrastructure for North Queensland.”
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