Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Bus Reviews In Transport NSW!

Spotted in Transport NSW website:
http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/file/busreform/OMBSC-contract-schedules.pdf



Review and Revision of Service Plan by Operator

(a) On or before 31 March of each Contract Year in which there is to be a review of the Contract Service Plan in accordance with Clause 5.2 of this Contract (Relevant Contract Year), the Operator must prepare and refer to the Director-General a draft Contract Service Amendment Plan in accordance with Clause 5 of the Contract (including the information required under Clauses 5.2(c), (d) and (e)).

(b)The timeframes contained in this Schedule 15 for the review and approval of a Contract Service Amendment Plan will apply unless the Director-General notifies the Operator alternative timeframes.

2. Regional Planning Forum
(a) On receipt of the draft Contract Service Amendment Plan, the Director-General shall convene a Regional Planning Forum to review the plan.

(b) On or before 30 April in each Relevant Contract Year, the members of the Regional Planning Forum shall:
                (i) review the material provided by the Operator
                    (including the information provided under Clauses
                    5.2(c), (d) and (e) of the Contract);
               (ii) identify options to facilitate improvements in the
                    provision of Bus Services by the Operator; and
               (iii) provide advice and commentary on the plan.

(c) The Operator shall consider the Regional Planning Forum’s comments and modify the draft Contract Service Amendment Plan as the Operator considers necessary (including to take account of any comments in relation to the information provided under Clause 5.2(c), (d) and(e) of the Contract).

(d) The revised draft Contract Service Amendment Plan must comply with Clause 5.1 of the Contract.

3. Public Consultation and Public Hearing (a) When reasonably required to do so by the Director-General, or when the Operator considers it appropriate, having regard to the proposed changes, on or before 1 June in each Relevant Contract Year, the Operator must submit the revised draft Contract Service Amendment Plan to a process of public consultation, by:
                  (i) placing the revised draft Contract Service
                      Amendment Plan on public display, along with any
                      relevant documentation prepared by the Regional 
                      Planning Forum and the Ministry of
                      Transport;
                  (ii) advertising the location or means of accessing the
                       revised draft Contract Service Amendment
                       Plan, and inviting public comment;
                  (iii) permitting the revised draft Contract Service 
                      Amendment Plan to remain on public display for
                     a period of one month; and
                  (iv) consulting with schools, students and parent groups 
                         affected by any proposed changes to Regular Bus 
                         Services.

4. Further Revised Service Plan by Operator
(a) Immediately following the public display period, the Operator shall:
                  (i) consider comments received on the exhibited draft
                       Contract Service Amendment Plan; and
                  (ii) make any amendments to the draft Contract Service
                       Amendment Plan as the operator considers necessary.

(a) The Operator may consult the Regional Planning Forum on any
      proposed revisions if the Operator considers this to be 
      necessary, or if reasonably required to do so by the Director-
      General.

(b) On or before 30 July in each Relevant Contract Year, the Operator shall:
                  (i) exhibit a revised draft Contract Service Amendment Plan; and
                  (ii) submit the revised draft Contract Service amendment Plan for approval to the Director-
                       General.

(c) The revised draft Contract Service Amendment Plan must comply with clause 5.1 of this Contract.

5. Approval by Director-General
         (a) On or before 30 August of each Relevant Contract Year, 
               the Director-General must, either:
                 (i) approve the revised draft Contract Service 
                     Amendment Plan; or
                 (ii) reject the revised draft Contract Service Amendment
                      Plan, and provide reasons for this rejection (in which
                      case a reasonable period of time must be allowed to
                      address these reasons given for rejection). The 
                      Director-General may provide suggestions for 
                      improvement of or amendment to the revised draft
                     Contract Service Amendment Plan.

(b) When determining whether to approve the revised draft Contract Service Amendment Plan, the Director-General may consider any reports, submissions or other information provided by the Regional Planning Forum.

(c) The Operator shall consider the reasons given for rejection and shall modify the draft Contract Service Amendment Plan and resubmit a further revised draft Contract Service Amendment Plan approval. The Operator must provide reasons for not incorporating any suggested modification

(d) The parties shall work in good faith to ensure that the Contract Service Plan can be approved by 30 September in the Relevant Contract Year.

(e) On or before 1 January of the following year, the Operator shall implement the Contract Service Plan as amended by the approved Contract Service Amendment Plan for that calendar year.

(f) Once approved by the Director-General and implemented by the Operator, the Contract Service Plan as amended by the Contract Service Amendment Plan will constitute the then current Contract Service Plan for the purposes of this Contract.

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