MEMBER for Light Tony Piccolo has slammed the Marshall Liberal Government for its decision to close the Gawler Driver Testing Centre as of tomorrow.
Mr Piccolo said the State Government move will affect four SA testing sites, including Gawler, and has been done so without any consultation with relevant industry bodies or the general community.
He added he has received a barrage of complaints about the closure of the Gawler service from angry parents, learner drivers, and driving instructors.
“This decision represents another broken promise by the Marshall Liberal Government, which will reduce the incomes of driving instructors and increase the cost to parents and young learner drivers,” Mr Piccolo said.
“The fact the decision was made without any consultation just smacks of arrogance and shows that Mr Marshall cannot be trusted.”
Coast Along Driver Training’s Joe Bombardieri said it will be a massive inconvenience to parents, kids and other driving instructors.
He also described how the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure’s (DPTI) decision to cancel the Vehicle On Road Test (VORT) route in Gawler has occurred for reasons unknown
to himself, other instructors, and the peak body: Australian Driver Trainers Association of SA.
“Without any consultation with key stakeholders, DPTI has decided to cancel the VORT examinations, as well as the final drive via log book, in Gawler,” Mr Bombardieri said.
“This means you can no longer be tested to obtain your provisional licence in Gawler.
“This not only inconveniences driving instructors, but students and parents in the Gawler region as well.
“I will now have to travel an additional 50 minutes to perform each driving test in Elizabeth, which is time that could be spent with other clients.”
A DPTI spokesperson said the change was prompted by a low number of driver tests being carried out in Gawler this year.
“A review of statistics for the Gawler routes identifies that in the last six months only seven CBTA (Competency Based Training Assessment) sessions have been booked for the Gawler start points,” they said.
“This represents two percent of all tests conducted in Gawler, while 29 percent of tests across the state are CBTA (sessions).”
The spokesperson added changes are regularly made to ensure tests deliver consistent safety outcomes.
“Reasons for the changes include the creation of ‘hubs’ where multiple VORT routes commence at the same location,” they said.
“It’s enabled the random allocation of start points by the EzyReg online booking system, which assist in the prevention of learners being trained on the VORT route that they will be tested on.”
Mr Piccolo said he has written to transport minister Stephan Knoll asking for explanations for the testing route’s closure and the absence of stakeholder consultation.
“Small businesses, parents and our young people deserve better than this,” he said.
“I intend to raise this matter in State Parliament and to do so until the minister reverses this appalling decision, which will hurt local people.”