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The Tasmanian industry used the annual conference to question the government on Project 2018

Tasmanian bus operators were given an insight into the upcoming Project 2018 at the TasBus Annual Conference recently.

The conference was held on June 3 and 4 at Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart, with a theme of ‘Buses: essential transport for Tasmania’s future.’

Project 2018 refers to an ongoing review of the state’s bus services, as the first set of bus service contracts start to expire in 2018.

Department of State Growth project director John Dawson tried to give operators at the event insight into the project.

Dawson explained some of the reasoning behind the project, and gave a very clear outline of what the project will not focus on.

“We are talking about changes for the betterment of the industry in Tasmania,” he says.

Dawson hopes to provide a clearer timeframe for the project to industry by June 30.

The State Government was also well represented with addresses from Tasmania Minister for Infrastructure Rene Hidding, opposition transport spokesperson Craig Farrell and Tasmanian Greens Leader Cassy O’Connor.

Hidding updated industry on some of the current transport projects government is undertaking, and says passenger transport plays a key role within the state.

He says there is no doubt Project 2018 will bring significant changes for some operators.

“This inevitably will mean some changes for some of you as industry operators,” he says.

“The potential for change is always unnerving.”

TasBus president Shane Dewsbery closed the conference with a recap on the day’s subjects, highlights the importance of government’s clear thinking.

“All three parties, I think, agree that buses are essential transport for Tasmania.”

Delegates then returned for a dinner event, where the annual auction raised over $14,000 for charity.

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