Gawler and Barossa bus companies could be forced out of business by the end of the year.
Long-serving school bus contractors have been left feeling jilted by the Department of Education and Children’s Services (DECS) after their contracts were not renewed this month.
Harris Coaches, Andrew Young’s Bus Service, Greenock Creek Charters and Nicholls Bus and Coach service are among the local businesses at risk of closure.
These companies transport students to and from primary and secondary schools throughout the region.
The Bus and Coach Association of South Australia (BCASA) has raised questions about the procurement process, saying it wants an independent investigation into the matter.
It is understood the school bus contracts have been won by a nationally-owned company.
BCASA executive director Sonia St Alban said it appears local bus operators have been treated unfairly.
“The Rann government is not really looking after the local SA operator,” she said. “It just seems like they’ve been dismissed without a second thought.”
In response, the BCASA will be leading a protest in front of Parliament House in Adelaide on Friday.
Bus operators from across the state are expected to converge on North Terrace to voice their anger over the education department’s tender process.
Local bus companies are encouraging supporters to attend the rally.
One company that will make its presence known on the day will be Gawler-based Harris Coaches. Greg Miller, from Harris Coaches, said the closure of local businesses will have wide-reaching effects on the community.
“The last five years…we’ve spent $1.4 million in the local economy – that’s only us - once you get all these others operators doing that, the local economy is going to suffer,” he said.
“We’ve done a tally, just the ones that we know of, and it’s going to immediately affect 57 families (across the state).
“Another operator he said that the scary thing about all this is being a route service, it’s not going to stop the general public being on the bus (with the students).”
Andrew Young, of Andrew Young’s Bus Service, said unless the situation is reviewed he will be looking for other employment at the end of the school year.
“We’ve bent over backwards for the education department…but to me, they’ve gone behind us, they’ve back-doored us,” he said.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said contracts have been awarded for 55 routes across the state.
“Fifty per cent of contracts have been awarded to incumbent operators and the other 50 per cent have been awarded to other existing DECS bus contractors,” she said.
“This means that no contracts have been awarded to any company other than existing DECS bus contractors.
“The procurement process is open and fair, with existing operators receiving recognition for prior service at numerous levels.”
The spokesperson also said contracts were awarded based on qualitative and value-for-money factors.
“The Department of Education and Children’s Services has taken numerous steps to ensure bus operators have been well informed about the bus procurement process,” she said. Education minister Jay Weatherill declined to comment when contacted by the Herald.
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