Glen Innes Severn Council is proposing an expansion of its Access Bus service to address a gap in transport options for seniors living in the villages of Deepwater, Emmaville, Glencoe and Red Range.
The Access Bus is currently delivered through Council’s Life Choices – Support Services (LC-SS) under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) and provides eligible residents in Glen Innes with regular transport to essential services and activities.
Recent consultation, including the Glen Innes Severn Council Aged Care and Disability Community Consultation Feedback Report 2024 and Transport for NSW forums, identified limited transport as a significant barrier for older residents in rural areas. Feedback highlighted that many seniors experience difficulty accessing healthcare, shopping and community events due to a lack of transport options.
In response, Council is preparing to extend the Access Bus service to include regular transport from the four villages into Glen Innes. The proposed service is designed for residents eligible under the CHSP — specifically, people aged 65 years and over, or 50 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people — who have a transport referral through the Australian Government’s My Aged Care (MAC) system.
“This initiative aligns with Council’s current Operational Plan which focuses on improving transport services and sharing information about available options for people of all abilities across the Local Government Area (LGA). Life Choices already operates weekly group outings and CBD access services, providing a strong foundation for this expansion.” Mayor Cr Margot Davis said.
“The extended Access Bus service is expected to support social inclusion and independence by enabling seniors in outlying villages to attend medical appointments, participate in community life, and complete everyday tasks. It will also create opportunities for staff to assist passengers with My Aged Care referrals and raise awareness about available support services,” Mayor Davis said.
To help inform the community about the proposed changes and support residents in accessing services, LC-SS is holding a series of community sessions across the LGA.
A session has already been held at Glencoe Hall, with more sessions scheduled at the following locations:
• Red Range Hall today, from 10:30am to 1:00pm
• Deepwater School of Arts Hall on 2 June, from 1:30pm to 4:00pm
• Emmaville War Memorial Hall on 6 June, from 10:30am to 1:00pm
At each session, residents will have the opportunity to learn more about the proposed LC-SS transport options for their area, receive assistance with My Aged Care referrals, and ask questions directly to the LC-SS support team.
“This is great news for our village residents to support healthcare access and ensure the wellbeing of our community no matter where they are in the region. A proactive approach to assisting the community and I thank all of the staff at Life Choices for their continued commitment to the people of Glen Innes Severn.” said Mayor Davis.
For more information, please contact LC-SS on (02) 6730 2500.
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