The transition to WA’s Evergreen Contract Model has been smooth for operators, as heard at the BusWA AGM
By Amie Hickland | October 20, 2013
Western Australia’s Evergreen Contract Model (ECM) for remote and regional school buses has been praised at the recent BusWA Annual General Meeting.
BusWA Chairman Ray Gannaway reports a smooth transition to the new EC model which came into force in July.
He says only one contractor is not signing the new ECM as by the end of this year they will have run out of students, but otherwise the transition to the ECMs has been very smooth.
“The Evergreeen Contract is a living document with a better review system in which BusWA plays a leading role with two members on the review panel,” he says.
“The transition of the fixed term Tendered Rate Model (TRM) contracts to the EC model will happen through a bidding system at the end of the fixed term contract time.
“There will be around 130 TRM Contracts being offered to the industry over the coming years, this will start in 2014.”
Gannaway says the involvement of the WA Government in selling the contracts will recognise the goodwill factor of the contracts for the first time.
“Financial institutions will now be able to also recognise the security and goodwill aspects of the ECM when evaluating funding options for contractors.”
Following the election of office bearers Gannaway returned as BusWA Chairman, with Dennis Sutton as Vice Chairman of the School Bus Division and Joe Giuppa as Vice Chairman of the Tour and Charter Division.
The meeting was held at Cannington Greyhounds Racing Complex, Perth, on October 11 and was attended by over 125 operators.
The meeting was sponsored by BCI along with Nazzari Bus Sales.