DRIVE NOW May/June 2022

$1.5M BOOST FOR
WESTERN AUSTRALIA news
WAV taxi services
Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) taxi services
across Western Australia are set to expand, following
a $1.5 million McGowan Government investment in
the upcoming 2022-23 State Budget, including a new
Regional WAV Taxi Service Grant Scheme.
The scheme will provide financial support to
encourage the establishment of WAV taxi services
in regional towns such as Broome, Denmark and
Esperance and support WAV taxi services in other
towns to meet demand or ensure continuity of
service.
An annual allocation of $115,000 through the
scheme will increase the existing WAV Modification
Grants from $15,000 to $20,000 to support the
costs of installing wheelchair hoists and associated
modifications.
wheelchair-accessible taxis.
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said, “We know taxi
services play an important role in providing a level
of independence to many in our community and are
aware that there is currently unmet demand in some
regions”.
“This new scheme offers long-term grant incentives
to ease the cost burden for new operators to start
servicing the areas where they're needed the most,
as well as ensuring the viability of existing service
providers.”
The Regional WAV Taxi Service Grant Scheme is a new
initiative offering two tiers of financial support from
an annual funding pool of $260,000.
Grants of $65,000 from the pool will support the
establishment of new WAV taxi services in towns
where none exist. Grants of $45,000 will support
existing WAV taxi service providers to replace an
ageing WAV taxi or purchase an additional WAV taxi to
meet demand.
The grants will offset costs, including vehicle
purchase, modification and fit-out, vehicle licensing,
inspections and on-demand transport authorisations.
In addition, the new scheme supports other accessible
transport initiatives, including the Taxi User Subsidy
Scheme, which provides co-payments to drivers of
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May/June 2022
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