Reporting required under any other act or regulation

• Reporting against the Air Transport (Route Licensing--Passenger Services) Act 2002
• Air Transport (Route Licensing--Passenger Services) Act 2002
• Reporting against the Harbors and Navigation Act 1993
• Reporting against the Passenger Transport Act 1994
• Reporting required under the Carers' Recognition Act 2005

Reporting against the Air Transport (Route Licensing--Passenger Services) Act 2002

The following report is provided pursuant to Section 19 of the Air Transport (Route Licensing—Passenger Services) Act 2002.

Air Transport (Route Licensing--Passenger Services) Act 2002

Operation and Administration of the Act in 2020-21

Adelaide to Port Augusta was the only route subject to a Route Service Licence during the 2020-21 Financial Year.

A Route Service Licence awarded to Regional Express Holdings Ltd (Rex) in 2017.

The declared route between Adelaide Airport and Port Augusta Airport was extended for the purposes of the Act from 1 January 2020 until 31 December 2020.

In March 2020 (Rex) advised DIT that due to the impact of COVID-19, the airline would ceases operation on the route with effect from 6 April 2020.

Reporting against the Harbors and Navigation Act 1993

The following report is provided in accordance with Section 10 of the Harbors and Navigation Act 1993 (the Act) for the 2020-21 financial year.

Registration and Licences

A total number of 3,725 new boat licences were issued in the 2020-21 financial year, along with 125 special permits for persons aged 12 to 15. There were a total of 297,800 boat licence holders in SA in this period.

There were 2, 686 new boat registrations in the 2020-21 financial year.

Safety Strategies

Part of the 2020-21 summer safety strategy has been to move to digital platforms for publications. The boat operator’s licence examination paper tests have been updated with a focus on current regulations.

During this period the new Marine Safety SA website has gone live enabling the public to easily find Marine Safety information and keep up to date with changes.

DIT continues to issue boating safety related information which includes flyers and safety messages through via media.

Aquatic Activity Licences

Aquatic Activity Licenses are issued to organisations for the purpose of an aquatic sport, activity or other purpose to be conducted on State waters.

During the 2020-21 financial year, 77 Aquatic Activity Licenses were issued for events such as races, exhibitions and fireworks displays.

Pilotage

The Government of South Australia is responsible for issuing pilot licenses and pilotage exemptions for a vessel 35 metres or more in length which must not be navigated within a ‘prescribed area’ (compulsory pilotage area) unless the vessel is navigated under the control or at the direction of a licensed pilot; or the master of the vessel holds a Pilotage Exemption certificate; or the vessel is a Royal Australian Navy vessel.

There have been 6 Pilot Licences issued along with 13 pilotage exemptions for the 2020-21 financial year.

Safety Operation of Vessels The Department employs a team of Marine Safety Officers throughout the state of South Australia who conduct routine and targeted patrols by land and by water to observe boating behaviours and to inspect vessels for compliance for safety equipment, registration and licensing requirements.

Approximately 5,612 recreational vessels were inspected during the 2020-21 financial year. Of those inspected, 830 expiation notices and 1,565 cautions were issued to owners or operators for a range of offences, mostly related to the failure to carry items of safety equipment, speeding or for operating whilst unlicensed or unregistered. There were 3 offences during the 2020-21 financial year that were reported to Court, while another 523 vessels were required to stop launching and 164 were sent ashore.

Waterways Management Dredging works were carried out in the Penneshaw harbour to clear the harbour to ensure the safe passage of vessels.

Twenty-two new navigation beacons were installed to mark the navigation channels into Venus Bay, in Bay of Shoals and in the Coorong channel between the Murray Mouth and Tauwitchere Barrage

Marine Facilities

The State Government has continued to contribute towards boating infrastructure projects in regional areas of the State that are owned and managed by Local Councils.

In the 2020-21 financial year, approximately $2.15 million was made available from the Facilities Fund to Local Councils.

Works that have been completed are:

• Dicksons Reserve Multipurpose Floating Pontoon (Tailem Bend)
• Smoky Bay Pontoon Replacement
• Moores Boat Ramp Redevelopment (near Streaky Bay)

Works that are in progress include:

• Franklin Harbour Marina Redevelopment
• Avoca Dell Bank Reclamation and Erosion Control (near Murray Bridge)
• St Kilda Boat Ramp Widening and Access Pontoon
• Waikerie Edgar Bartlett Drive Boat Ramp Upgrade
• Modification to Existing Black Point Boat Ramp
• Lock 6 Boat Ramp Upgrade (Chowilla / Murtho).

Approximately $2.18 million will be made available in the 2021-22 financial year.

The State Government allocated $20 million in the 2020-21 State Budget to be spent over the next two years to improve jetties, boat ramps and boating facilities, boosting coastal and regional communities and creating employment. Preconstruction activities have commenced on the following:

Council Projects

• Beacon 19, Goolwa Boating Facility Upgrade
• Arno Bay Boat Ramp Pontoon Replacement
• Streaky Bay Shelter Platform. Departmental Projects
• Beachport Jetty Refurbishment
• Kingscote Main Jetty Refurbishment
• Granite Island – Screwpile Jetty Conservation Works
• Cape Jervis Jetty Refurbishment
• Penneshaw Jetty Refurbishment
• Coffin Bay Jetty Refurbishment
• Anxious Bay Boat Ramp Safety Improvements
• O’Sullivan Beach Boat Ramp Expansion
• West Beach Boat Ramp Refurbishment.

Reporting against the Passenger Transport Act 1994

The Department administers the Passenger Transport Act 1994 (the PT Act) and Passenger Transport Regulations 2009 by planning, regulating and funding public transport services (bus, train and tram, taxi and hire car) across South Australia. Pursuant to section 24A of the PT Act the following report is provided.

The Department has performance-based franchise contracts with bus, tram and train operators that keeps the operator focused firmly on the efficiency and quality of service delivery to customers. The government retains ownership of rail assets (including trains, trams, tracks, stations and all infrastructure); sets requirements for levels of services; continues to set the fare price for travel on bus, tram and trains and retains the revenue.

Public transport bus and tram services across metropolitan Adelaide are provided by four private transport providers, Torrens Transit Pty Ltd who operate three contract areas (East West, Outer North and Outer North East); Busways South Australia Pty Ltd who operate the Outer South contract area; and Australian Transit enterprises Pty Ltd trading as Southlink who operate the Hills contract area. Torrens Connect (a joint venture between Torrens Transit Pty Ltd, UGL Rail Services Pty Ltd and John Holland Pty Ltd) provide both bus and light rail services in the North-South contract area.

The bus and tram contracts commenced on 5 July 2020. Rail Infrastructure Maintenance for tram functions (i.e. within track, civil, signalling and overhead) transitioned to Torrens Connect on 31 January 2021 in line with the commencement of the new train contract.

The Outsourced Rail Operations Agreement (OROA) with Keolis Downer Adelaide commenced on 31 January 2021 for the operation and maintenance of the Adelaide Metropolitan Passenger Rail Network (AMPRN), which consists of six commuter routes on four main lines with the provision of asset management and rolling stock maintenance services.

The OROA was signed on 18 September 2020 following a competitive market process conducted by the Adelaide Rail Transformation Program (ARTP).

Public transport services in regional South Australia are also administered by the Department. These include regular route services (country bus services), provincial city services, integrated transport plans, special medical-related services and Dial-a-Ride services.

The Department supports community passenger networks across regional South Australia and within metropolitan Adelaide. The Community Passenger Networks Program is established to facilitate access to transport for people who are transport disadvantaged. The program is jointly funded by the Commonwealth Home Support Program and the Department of Human Services.

The Department is committed to continually improving public transport services and infrastructure and making public transport more accessible and easier to use for all users. The bus fleet is now 100% accessible.

The Department's Station Upgrade Program continues to upgrade selected stations along metropolitan passenger rail lines to provide safer and more efficient services for train customers, with all improvements focusing on accessibility in line with the Disability Discrimination Act 2002 for public transport services. Improved facilities for commuters include new shelters, improved lighting, platform furniture, additional cover, improved access, pedestrian crossings, bike enclosures, additional CCTV camera, new access paths and ramp along with new car parking facilities.

Departmental officers at the Adelaide Railway Station monitor accessibility gates and provide 'sighted guide' assistance to passengers to board trains if needed. Information regarding accessible journeys is published on the Adelaide Metro website.

Adelaide Metro patronage 2020-21 (millions)

The total patronage on the public transport system decreased by -18.1% compared with the previous financial year.

Note: 2020-21 patronage has decreased significantly due to the impacts of Covid-19, which showed a significant decline from mid-March 2020

Total patronage by mode

Total patronage by passenger type

Total patronage by ticket type

Note: * The figures listed above include free travel data.

Special event services

On 23 October 2014, an amendment to the Passenger Transport Act 1994 was enacted with respect to the management and funding of public transport for special events. The aim of the legislation is to facilitate the successful planning of special events in metropolitan Adelaide by requiring mandatory notification of major events and also to provide a mechanism for the costs of additional public transport services required for the event to be recovered where the event is considered a "commercial event".

The key elements of the legislation include the requirement for venue managers to notify the Department six months in advance (or as soon as the event is known) of any event expected to attract more than 5000 patrons and, where additional public transport services are required, that commercial events contribute to the cost of these extra services.

Events are classified as one of two different categories of event for the purposes of the legislation.

The two categories are:

• Commercial Events - organised for profit where there is a fee for participants either in the form of a ticket or an indirect fee i.e. membership of a club or association; or
• Community Events - organised as not for profit, the event is open to the community and attendance is free or a voluntary donation from attendees may be sought.

Based on the information provided in the notification form, the Department will make a determination regarding the need for additional or special public transport services to cater for the event and, where extra services are required, events categorised as "commercial" will be required to fund the services.

During 2020-2, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on special events with many events either cancelled or considerably scaled back with respect to crowd numbers permitted. Major events that were held during 2020-21, albeit with reduced crowd numbers included the cricket, AFL football and the Christmas Pageant. All of these events were held at Adelaide Oval with additional, special AOX services operating across the bus, train and tram network to and from the event. While crowds were significantly reduced, the Department maintained a full suite of services to assist patrons to maintain social distance while on special public transport services. Despite the reduced crowds, for the 2020-2021 year, an average of 40% of the crowds attending AFL matches at Adelaide Oval used public transport to travel to and from the events. During 2020-2021, all cruise ships were cancelled and therefore DIT was not required to provide additional public transport and customer support services for these visits as in previous years.

Regional services

The Department regulates and contributes to funding transport services in some regional areas.

Regular route services operate across regional South Australia and link major centres to Adelaide. Services operate in the Barossa Valley, Murray Mallee, Mid North, Upper North, Far North, Riverland, Eyre, South East and Fleurieu regions.

Integrated transport services operate in the Coorong District Council, Karoonda East District Council, Murray District Council, Southern Mallee District Council, Mid Murray District Council, Southern Yorke Peninsula, Tatiara District Council, Eastern Riverland, Upper North, Mid North, Adelaide Hills, Victor Harbor and on Kangaroo Island.

Dial-a-Ride door to door services are provided in Victor Harbor, Port Lincoln, Murray Bridge, the Copper Coast and Barossa Valley. These supplement regular timetabled services and extend the range of public transport options for these communities.

In the past four years patronage has continued to decrease by an average of 5.7% per year. This decrease has in part been attributed to cheaper regional airfares, internet banking/services/shopping and people generally choosing to use cars rather than travelling long distances on buses.

Based on data provided by country bus operators, country bus patronage in 2020-21 was 600,100, an increase of 0.01% from the previous year.

This increase in patronage is due to the recovery after the initial large impact of COVID-19 on regional patronage in the previous financial year. During the first months of the various COVID-19 restrictions in the previous financial year, regional service bus operators recorded patronage decreases of between 30%-90% compared to the same period in previous years. At the end of the 2020-21 financial year patronage for the longer distance country bus operators is still approximately 30% lower compared to the same period in previous years.

Provincial city bus services

Regular passenger services operate in South Australia's provincial cities of Port Lincoln, Port Pirie, Whyalla, Port Augusta, Murray Bridge and Mount Gambier. Provincial city services are a combination of town and school services.

Based on data provided by provincial city bus operators, patronage in 2020-21 was 402,133, an increase of 13.08% from the previous year. As with the country bus services, the increase is due to the recovery after the initial impact on patronage from COVID-19 in the previous financial year, however when comparing the 2020-21 financial year with the 2018-2019 financial year, prior to COVID-19, patronage has decreased by 3.12%.

In the four years prior to the start of COVID-19, provincial city bus service patronage continued to decrease by an average of 1.6% each year.

Throughout 2020-2021 the COVID-19 Financial Support Package approved for contracted regional bus service operators in May 2020 continued and assisted in alleviating the financial strain on contractors due to their loss of patronage, and therefore fare revenue. This package was critical in ensuring that these essential services were maintained for the regional communities.

In October 2020 the Department commenced a review of existing regional bus services to assess existing regional bus services and identify opportunities and strategies for:

• Establishment of new contracting models and contract consolidation
• Service enhancements and integration
• Service promotion
• The introduction of consistent fare structures
• Development of the Regional Transport Framework to guide future planning and delivery of regional bus services.

This review will also set out the pathway for the retendering of services to reflect the strategies outlined above.

Complaints, commendations and submissions

Feedback on public transport Feedback from customers about passenger transport services is welcomed as it provides the ability to improve and assess existing services and practices. Customers are presented with multiple opportunities to provide their feedback through the Adelaide Metro website, Adelaide Metro lnfoline and lnfoCentre, as well as social media such as Facebook and Twitter. Complaints represented 0.01% of total public transport patronage (initial boardings and transfers) in the 2020-21 reporting year, with an increase of 711 (9%) compared to the previous year. There was a decrease of 90 commendations (13%) compared to the previous year.

A decline in patronage due to COVID-19 resulted in flow on effects to the number of complaints and commendations in 2020-21, just as it did in 2019-2020.

The table below shows Feedback information on public transport

Feedback on taxi and small passenger vehicle (SPV) services

The Department receives complaints and commendations regarding taxis and small passenger vehicles. Complaints may lead to disciplinary action if a breach of the regulations under the Act is found to have occurred. Complaints represented less than .0009% of the around 12 million journeys provided by taxis, rideshare and chauffeur services.

The table below shows feedback information on taxis and SPVs.

As at June 2021, there were 4,986 small passenger vehicles in the metropolitan area that can provide point to point services

Waiting times

The taxi centralised booking services reported that the average waiting time for general taxis in metropolitan Adelaide for 2020-21 was 9 minutes and 44 seconds during the day (6am to 6pm), and 8 minutes and 14 seconds at night (6pm to 6am). The figures include waiting times for phone-booked, hailed and taxi rank trips and meet the prescribed waiting time of 12 minutes, as stated in the conditions for accreditation.

There were 1035 general licences in metropolitan Adelaide in 2020-21.

Access Taxis The taxi centralised booking services reported that the average waiting time for Access Taxis in metropolitan Adelaide for 2020-21 was 7 minutes and 24 seconds during the day (6am to 6pm) on weekdays and 9 minutes and 12 seconds on weekends, and 17 minutes and 42 seconds on a weekday night (6pm to 6am).

Approximately 5,100 Access Taxi jobs per year take more than 30 minutes to pick up the passenger, meaning an average of 14 people with disability receive a very late service every day.

There are 101 general licences with special conditions (Access Taxis).

Passenger Transport Standards Committee The Passenger Transport Standards Committee (PTSC) is a statutory committee, established under the Act, responsible for exercising disciplinary powers under Part 4, Division 5 of the Act and for exercising or performing such other powers or functions as may be conferred by the Minister from time to time.

In 2020-21, the PTSC sat on 96 occasions and considered 689 matters including:  169 accreditation applications

• 518 disciplinary matters Of the 518 disciplinary matters, the PTSC:
• suspended the accreditation of 159 accredited persons for a period of time;
• revoked the accreditation of 319 accredited persons and disqualified them for a period of time; and
• permanently disqualified 1 person from holding accreditation under the Act.

Disciplinary matters included people who failed to demonstrate they met the standards and requirements to hold an accreditation under the Act.

Temporary suspensions primarily related to administrative matters, such as the suspension of a driver’s license through the fines enforcement system, or following an alcohol related driving offence or after the expiry of annual medical clearances. In these instances the suspension remains until the driver’s license has been reinstated or until the updated medical report is provided.

The majority of accreditation revocations relate to interstate driver’s license transfers, as a driver can’t hold an accreditation in South Australia if they do not live in the state (with the exception of cross-border workers). Others had their accreditation revoked because their working with children check had been revoked, or their driver’s license disqualified.

After holding an enquiry, the PTSC found no cause for disciplinary action against two (2) accredited persons, while the remaining accredited persons were fined or reprimanded.

In addition to the above disciplinary matters, the PTSC also placed conditions on the accreditation of one (1) person.

Reporting required under the Carers' Recognition Act 2005

The principles of the Carer’s Charter are incorporated into DIT’s strategic human resource framework, online training and corporate induction resource material. Operating procedures set out the responsibilities of managers to assist employees to meet their caring obligations and provide a range of options to employees, including family carers’ leave, flexible working hours, flexible leave arrangements and access to special leave.

South Australians with severe and permanent disabilities which limit their capacity to use public transport independently are able to apply for transport assistance such as the Plus One Free Companion card and the South Australian Transport Subsidy Scheme. The Plus One Free Companion card provides assistance to people who cannot travel independently due to mobility, cognitive, sensory or communication impairments. Companions or carers accompanying Plus One Free Companion card holders may access Adelaide Metro bus, train and tram services free of charge.

DIT provides public transport information for people with a disability, their families and their carer’s on network accessibility via the Adelaide Metro mobile app, website, as well as the Adelaide Metro Infoline and InfoCentres.