Community Transport Central Coast Limited (CTCCL) has ceased operating, causing confusion and concern for its clients, more than 520 residents who rely on the service to get to services vital for their health and wellbeing.
The sudden closure on Friday, September 20 with less than 24 hour notice to both staff and customers includes the Shirley Shuttle which has helped more 4,000 customers over the years.
The local politicians are scrambling to try to assist the families who have been left in the lurch by the sudden demise of the not-for-profit company which gets two thirds of its revenue from the State Government.
CTCCL said it would operate skeleton staff until September 27 to liaise with its customers to make alternative transport arrangements.
It will also liaise with suppliers, contractors and stakeholders.
As well as paid staff, the operation had a team of volunteers.
“During the past year our volunteers contributed tirelessly driving for a combined 908 shifts, totalling 6,940 hours and travelling 113,052 km,” the annual report for the financial year 2023/24 states.
In a notice to community members on September 19, the company said it had been experiencing operational challenges which had placed significant pressures on the commercial viability of its services for some time.
“The Board and management have been working tirelessly to address these operational challenges,” a notice to the community said.
Unfortunately, due to external factors it is apparent that CTCCL is not able to continue its operations.
“As such, the Board has made the difficult decision to place CTCCL into Members Voluntary Liquidation from September 23, 2024 and to cease normal operations from September 20, 2024,” the notice said.
Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris, and Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch, said on social media that Transport NSW was informed on September 19 that CTCCL would cease operations the next day, giving less than 24 hours’ notice.
They said there had been no indication beforehand that this would happen.
“The NSW Government, through (Department of) Transport, are working to secure an alternative operator,’’ the post said.
“Central Coast MPs have been speaking to the Minister’s office about the importance of finding alternatives for this vital service as quickly as possible.
“We will keep the public updated as news comes to hand on possible alternative arrangements.”
Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said he was deeply concerned by the situation and that he had written to the Department of Transport for information on alternative arrangements.
One community member summed up sentiment when they said on social media that they relied on the service desperately and “so do many other pensioners who cannot afford taxis to appointments and can not use public transport as they are too old and fail”.
“There will be hundreds of appointments cancelled due to this service not operating,” the resident said.
Since 2013, CTCCL’s transport services had supported the frail aged, those living with a disability, and those who were financially or geographically isolated to remain engaged in their community.
The Shirley Shuttle had been operating for more than 15 years, started by Barb Galvin in 2008 as part of bequest from her mother, Shirley.
The CTCCL annual report highlighted the generosity of Cancer Care Australia; the Rotary Club of East Gosford, Lions Family Central Coast, Freemasons Central Coast, local resident Karen Thorpe and thanked the Everglades Women’s Golf Club and Canton Mixed Bowlers for conducting major fundraisers to support running costs of one Shirley Shuttle vehicle for its life.
Coast News will continue to provide updates as they come to hand.
lm a volunteer driver for CTCCL and Shirlry Shuttle, this announcement is very distressing for all our clients who for some we are the only contact they have, every person who has used this service has commented that they just would not be able to get out with out us. We must find a solution quickly. Not only for the community and the drivers who love doing what we do.
The Government has to do something immediately
I and probably a thousand others rely on this transport of volunteers to get to medical appointments
Two of which I have booked for next month
If I hadn’t turned my phone on at this precise moment I would be totally unaware of this horrible situation
And un prepared
Following a bus accident which has left me house bound for over 8 eight years now.
I’m terrified of ever getting on a bus again.
They don’t wait for you to sit down
Even when you ask them
I have no other option and need my medical appointments which was mind boggling just to get them.
Getting taxis home from Gosford hospital costs over $60.00 one way
I Thank Community Transport for their love, support and selfless acts in this community.
Please fix this
Shirley’s Shuttle and the overall community transportation system is such an important community resource for so many people in need . I truely hope a solution for this situation will be found very soon . It is of extreme urgency that it is resolved quickly.
Where is labor government in this
, we need the service , Federal government took away a $250.00 travel pass which helped pensioners and concession card holders ,!!!
This is an absolute disgrace that this has happened. They have left many people on the coast stranded. Not everybody can afford taxis or drive or have family members to drive them. This will make many frail and elderly people not able to get to appointments for doctors or hospital appointments.
I have needed to use the services of CTCCL and the Shirley Shuttle for over 7 years, mainly to attend medical appointments. The drivers and office staff have always been very accommodating and professional in performing their duties.
This situation is going to cause a lot of stress to a lot of people, myself included. Please, can the someone solve this problem as quickly as possible. Particularly for patients attending Gosford Hospital Cancer Day Centre 5 days a week.
Good luck with finding a replacement service the geographical and financially disadvantaged can use.Here in my area we now have a service the average pensioner/ disadvantaged cannot afford unless they have an Aged Care package.
thanks for this article I am affected by this and living in a village in Chain Valley bay am isolated how can this happen 😢
how on earth could something as huge as the service suddenly close down, or has it been kept quiet, I don’t use the service,
I realise alternatives for people are needed first, but there are many questions that need answers. The main be one is who is responsible, there has been no one standup to fill in the holes of this mess up. Surely someone saw this coming a while ago, I used to work in Not for Profits and always knew what was happening at monthly meetings. Somebody stand up.
As a driver of 12 years for CTCCL, I and my fellow drivers were gutted by the news. I was given 2 hours notice of a meeting and told our jobs ceased immediately. Having a mortgage has only added to the stress of trying to find another job asap. But the biggest heartache for me is our wonderful clients that we helped everyday are now stranded until they can sought something else out.
Mismanagement of funds are the real reasons the organisation folded.
Editor’s note: Minor edits made to avoid legal issues.
I have just recently lost my husband who drove me everywhere I don’t drive , now I have been relying on CTCCL for all my transportation. I am 81 , have lots of health issues including not been able to walk properly . going on Scenic Trips and nice lunches , mixing with people, gets me out of the house after spending weeks on my own.
Surely this Company should have been subsidised by the Government, or some sort of grant given to such a vital organisation . Where were the Auditors?? So this happens just after the election. The Government must be obligated to do a decent thing and help out. People’s lives are at risk..