The City of Mount Gambier is reviewing its By-Laws which will expire on 1 January 2019. A report will be considered by Council at its monthly meeting on Tuesday 20 February 2018 that the proposed replacement By-Laws be endorsed before public consultation is sought.
Council currently has By-Laws for Permits and Penalties, Local Government Land, Roads, Moveable Signs, Dogs and Taxi Regulation. By-Laws enable Council to regulate activities within the Council area that are not specifically addressed by other legislative and regulatory provisions.
Replacement By-Laws must be reviewed and adopted in accordance with the legislative provisions before they can take effect from 1 January 2019.
The legislation that permitted Council to make the current Taxi By-Law was repealed by State Parliament on 31 March 2016. Therefore, the Taxi Regulation By-Law will not be replaced and Council’s Taxi Licensing scheme will cease on 1 January 2019. This means that Council will no longer regulate taxi fees or operating hours, undertake annual taxi/meter inspections, or deal with service complaints associated with taxi operations.
"The State Government altered the legislation and Council will no longer have any jurisdiction over taxi regulations from the beginning of 2019," City of Mount Gambier CEO Mark McShane said.
"The City of Mount Gambier is currently the only Council that regulates taxis under By-Laws. From 2019, the State Government will be responsible for ensuring that all passenger transport drivers, vehicles and services operating in the City of Mount Gambier, do so in accordance with the Passenger Transport Act 1994 and Passenger Transport Regulations 2009."
Accreditation of taxi services will be assessed by the Department of Planning and Transport (DPTI), through the Accreditation and Licensing Centre to ensure appropriate standards of customer service and stringent safety requirements are in place.
“Taxis operating within the City will still compete for customers like any other service industry, and will make their own business decisions with regard to the service they provide.”
“Council will liaise with current licensed taxi operators and DPTI for the transition of taxi operators to the same scheme that operates across the rest of the State of South Australia,” Mr McShane said.
Please view the Taxi By-Law FAQ for further information.
