By Parker Mckenzie
An Emerald resident has revealed her frustration with a lack of transport options in the area affecting elderly and disabled members of the community.
Maria Millers said the area was previously well serviced by the Emerald Taxi Company, but the company no longer operates in the area after its owner decided to change careers.
“Those most affected, but not exclusively, are the elderly, disabled but also many others. A late shift can leave you stranded in Belgrave where the last bus service to Gembrook terminates at around 9pm,” she said.
“Young people who were previously able to access a taxi to come home from parties may be tempted to drink-drive when there is no other way of coming home.”
Rideshare companies like Uber, Lyft and DiDi do not operate in Emerald because of the distance from metropolitan Melbourne while companies like 13 Cabs regularly do not have anyone in the area to respond to requests.
Dandenong Ranges Taxi Services owner Garry Abbott said the issue has affected people in the hills he has personally driven because of long wait times for rides.
“I had a customer here that I picked up not long ago in my taxi in Emerald and she an elderly lady 90 years of age,” he said.
“We couldn’t make it on time to a medical appointment she had waited three months for. She started sobbing uncontrollably and it was incredibly upsetting.”
Ms Millers wrote a letter and met with local government MPs, however, a solution to the issue has not been found as of yet.
She said the lack of transport options impacted elderly and disabled people’s ability to arrive at regular and required medical treatments.
“The problem as outlined is not just confined to elderly and disabled accessing medical treatment, it is broader negatively affecting the social fabric of our community,” she said.
“Even cafés have noticed the absence of regulars.”
The Emerald-Monbulk Road/Belgrave-Gembrook Road bus line services the area; however, riding buses for elderly or disabled people can often present challenges.
Mr Abbott said the solution is to find more drivers willing to operate in their local areas in the Dandenong Ranges, which has been a challenge.
“I’m 70 years old and I’m going to retire soon, which will be another driver gone,” he said.
“We need new drivers, not necessarily people in their 20s, but they could be 50 or 55 and working two or three days a week for some extra money.”
Mr Abbott said he can provide people with a car to drive, however, after Covid there has been little interest in driving for a taxi service.
Gembrook MP Brad Battin —whose electorate covers Emerald — was contacted for comment.
