Many locals are opposing a recommendation to scrap the popular Manly Hop Skip Jump bus service due to ‘rising costs’ of operations.
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Forest ward councillor Jose Menano-Pires submitted a motion to review the viability of the service and suggested using the funds for the maintenance and repair of potholed local roads.
Cr Menano-Pires has also recommended using the taxpayer’s money in creating new footpaths.
During a council meeting, Cr Menano-Pires stated that the free bus service should be phased out by September 2022 unless it could be run on a cost neutral basis.
The service costs Northern Beaches Council roughly $850,000 a year as of 2022, which is a significant increase from last year’s estimated cost of $700k.
However, Cr Menano-Pires withdrew the notion in May 2022 after three Councillors were absent from the chamber, stating that it’s not appropriate to proceed with matters not involving the entire council.
Cr Kylie Ferguson has also agreed that they’ve got to look at how to spend the ratepayers’ money and that there is so much more to do with it.
“We are losing $1.8m a year and not many of us around this table are batting an eyelid over it. I find it quite sad, we could be doing so much more with the money,” Cr Ferguson said during a Council meeting last year.
Many residents are not happy about plans of stopping the service, with thousands having signed a petition to save the Hop Skip Jump.
“Our part here in Manly we would all be devastated if this iconic free bus service was stopped. Council funds many niche services that are not revenue neutral, indeed that is why we pay out rates, for Council to provide the services we need and contribute to our community in a positive way to keep us connected,” shared community organisation Manly Community Forum.
“I also believe it was not supposed to be completely free but was supposed to be a gold coin donation. I’m all for keeping it for the elderly people to use but maybe more people should be putting in the gold coin to slightly offset the cost,” said local Ian.
The Hop, Skip & Jump bus service was introduced back in 2006 when Stockland was being redeveloped. It was subsequently taken over by Manly Council.
