Community Partnerships Deliver Transport Solutions in the Tasman

A major community-led transport initiative is launching on the Tasman Peninsula, driven by a powerful collaboration between local volunteers, council representatives, and community organizations working together to tackle regional transport issues.

Listening and responding directly to local needs the Tasman Council has worked together with the Tasman Ex-Services Club, the Bendigo Bank and Tasman Voice for Health and purchased two new 12-seater buses to launch an innovative six-month free community transport trial. This initiative directly attempts to address long-standing transport barriers that have prevented residents across the Tasman and Forestier Peninsulas from accessing essential medical care, employment, shopping, and social connections.

The project is the result of a rigorous community-led process spearheaded by volunteer consumer group Tasman Voice for Health (TVH) and its volunteer Working Groups. Supported by the Tasman Council, Health Consumers Tasmania, community organizations, local transport stakeholders, and researcher Dr Faline Howes, the group conducted extensive community surveys and engagement resulting in a report titled Community-Led Process Solving Local Transport Issues in the Tasman.

Their findings highlighted severe gaps, including a community-wide lack of knowledge of existing services; a mismatch between transport solutions and community needs; community transport options and gaps; impact of high travel costs; the difficulty community members experienced accessing medical appointments; impact of transport on employment opportunities and the role of transport in reducing social isolation.

The designed two-bus Free Community Transport Trial involves:

• A Coordinated Route Service: One council-owned bus, operated by a paid Tasman Council driver, will run a regular, dependable route from Nubeena to Sorell and return twice per week. If you would like to know more about this bus, the route and bookings, please contact the Tasman Council on (03) 6250 9200

• A Flexible Volunteer Community & Courtesy Bus: Based at the Tasman Ex-Services Club, the second bus will operate with volunteer community drivers during the day for flexible community access, transitioning to a courtesy bus for club patrons in the evening. You will need no special license but will need a Working With Vulnerable People (WWVP) Card, which is free for volunteers. If you are interested in being a volunteer driver or want to drive your own particular group around, please contact Julie 0401 119 295.

Much is yet to be worked out, but based on the recommendations in the Transport Report, the six-month trial will look at passenger transport between key local communities, including Nubeena, White Beach, Port Arthur, Taranna, Eaglehawk Neck, Murdunna, and Sorell. Priority will be given to residents experiencing transport disadvantage and those traveling for essential medical and personal needs.

The trial will be overseen by a newly formed Community Transport Management Committee to monitor and adjust for service demand, route design, and long-term financial sustainability. While the Tasman Council retains ownership and operational control of its primary route bus, the Tasman Ex-Services Club will operate the secondary bus under a collaborative partnership agreement.

Additionally, TVH has developed a comprehensive printed community transport brochure due for release in Spring 2026. Co-designed with older residents, community groups and service providers, the brochure will bring together information about public transport, community transport services, ride-share options, volunteer transport and transport advocacy contacts. The project recognised that many residents, particularly older people, prefer receiving information in printed formats that are clear and easily accessible, regardless of digital literacy skills.

This project has strengthened local volunteer and organisational leadership, advocacy skills and collaboration across the municipality, while demonstrating the value of community-led solutions. It has also increased awareness of transport challenges and created stronger connections between community organisations, government agencies and residents.

Tasman Voice for Health and project partners believe the initiative shows that meaningful change happens when communities are listened to and involved in designing solutions.

By combining community voices, supporting local leadership and collaborative action, the Tasman community has moved from identifying a problem to creating practical solutions that improve access to services, reduce isolation and strengthen community participation.