September 28, 2016
Less than four years after Wondai residents were welcoming the return of a taxi to the town, the future of the service again looks bleak.
The business has been on the market for six months, with little interest shown despite the fact the asking price is just $15,000 … and that includes a 10-seater wheelchair-lift Toyota HiAce.
If no buyer comes forward within the next few weeks, the current operators plan to surrender the licence. And as this will be the second time this has occurred, the chances of another Wondai taxi licence being issued are negligible.
The Wondai Taxi licence was last surrendered in 2010, leaving the town without a local service for several years.
In 2012, after lobbying by the Wondai Chamber of Commerce and promises of support from local businesses, Wondai Hardware owners Chris and Donna Kennedy agreed to apply for the licence.
The taxi went back on the road in November 2012.
But just a few months later, on March 1, 2013, local residents Chris and Liz Stewart took over the licence.
Since then the couple has been covering costs but battling to make a proper living from the business.
Chris said he believed that initially the Main Roads Department didn’t want to give the licence back to the Wondai community at all, and only agreed if it was run in conjunction with an established business.
However, for more than three years now, the Stewarts have been running the cab as their sole business.
“It covers its running costs but what it doesn’t do is cover a wage,” Chris said.
He is the sole driver as there is not sufficient work or fares available to put on a second driver.
That means Chris is on call seven days a week – from 7:00am to 8:30pm Sunday to Thursday, and 7:00am to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
He has calculated that he is working for less than $5 an hour, but he is equally upset that he is tied to the phone, and cannot take a break – even for a short time – from Wondai.
And there is also a practical concern. The HiAce van is a 2006 model and although in good condition will soon be reaching the end of its working life.
“There’s no money left to replace the cab,” Chris said.
“To buy a new one is $70,000 or $80,000 with the obligatory wheelchair lift.”
He said there were about 15 people in Wondai who relied on the cab, and others who used it when assistance from organisations such as Graham House was not available.
Chris said he had spoken to the operators of the Murgon cab service, but they would have to put on another vehicle and another driver to service Wondai, and they were not interested.
Liz said some people had shown interest in the business “but once they see the financials they don’t come back”.
She said if the service closed it would leave a hole, but the couple don’t know what else to do.
“I have got options of other jobs, for two or three days a week, which would earn me more than the cab,” Chris said.
“I can’t put my whole life on hold waiting for the phone to ring.”
Chris has tried sitting on the rank to pick up more fares, and that made no difference. He also organised some wine tours which worked for a while, but he admits he is now just “too tired”.
“You can have your good moments, like Anzac Day and race days, but that is less than 10 days a year,” he said.
“What I would really like is for someone else to take it over and have a turn.”
He said an extended family who could share the load amongst themselves could be perfect; or if someone who already had a successful business wanted to run it as an add-on.
“But they would have to want to do it for Wondai. There has a got to be a community feel to it,” Chris said.
“These people are really, really going to miss me.”
If no one steps forward there is only one other option.
“I will just deregister the van and sell it off,” he said.
“I don’t think the Council can be expected to subsidise it.”
- Related article: Wondai Hails New Service
