WHILE Danish royalty had a police escort in New Norfolk on Thursday, a 100-year-old life-long community member spent an hour in the sun waiting for a taxi just to get home with her walker and shopping. It’s an issue long identified – other councils are at least looking at local shuttle buses but in the Derwent Valley it’s not even addressed. It’s even worse in the upper valley. The minimal service has been slashed.
A taxi driver told me about this due to his concern for the elderly customer’s health and potential heat stroke. They can only do so much and try very hard. In many regions around Australia where taxis are lean, venues are made by liquor licensing to have a courtesy bus to take patrons home when it’s within a small radius. It’s a problem when all the venues close at the same time late at night.
We should be thankful that there is at least a seat at the taxi rank, as it took 12 months for that to be replaced. The local shopkeeper supplied plastic chairs and it took multiple complaints from community members – not any councillor – for the seat to be replaced. Council priorities do not seem to be about the community who pay rates. Keep it real, DVC.
LEAH BYERS,
NEW NORFOLK
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