New transit provider at Mt Buller

[djam]

Stakeholder Notification Service - New transit provider confirmed at Mt Buller

The Mt Buller Mt Stirling Alpine Resort Management Board is pleased to announce that Travel Safe Australia has been awarded the contract to provide transit services at Mt Buller starting from the 2019 snow season. The contract includes provision of carpark shuttle, village shuttle, valet taxi and park & ride services.

The Mt Buller Mt Stirling Resort Management CEO, Mark Bennetts, said “Transit services are a critical part of the visitor experience at Mt Buller and cost a significant amount to provide. We undertook a very thorough tender and evaluation process so as to attain the best possible result for visitors and stakeholders”.

Travel Safe Australia is part of the Travel Safe Group, an organisation that provides flexible transit services in many countries around the world through partnerships and the effective use of technology.

Bendigo Coachlines will be Travel Safe Australia’s primary fleet partner, providing new village shuttle buses, new carpark shuttle buses, and new valet taxis. Travel Safe Australia will source additional vehicles from its extensive network of transport operators during peak visitation periods to minimise overall cost.

Travel Safe Australia will also introduce real time arrival information for all transit services including carpark and village shuttles. Visitors will be able to book valet taxis online and via the Mt Buller App, select pick-up times and track the arrival of their driver from the comfort of their accommodation.

Visitors will also be able to book the new Snowplay Express Park & Ride service from Mirimbah online from as little as $36.80 per vehicle. For further information on this service visit the Mt Buller website here.

Benefits for Mt Buller visitors include:

• An updated fleet so as to improve comfort and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Real-time service information via the Mt Buller App
• The ability to book valet taxis online and through the App, and receive time of arrival notifications that remove the need to wait outdoors
• A new Snowplay Express service during 8 peak weekends in July and August that allows visitors to pre book and park in Mirimbah and be safely transported in comfort to the Mt Buller Village without needing to carry and fit wheel chains
• Valet taxi fares retained at 2018 prices
• Carpark and Village shuttle services remain free of charge
• Continued employment opportunities for the local community

Mr Bennetts also expressed his gratitude to Mansfield Mt Buller Bus Lines (MMBL), the previous transit services provider “MMBL and all of its staff made an enormous contribution to visitors and stakeholders at Mt Buller over many many years and has been part of the fabric of the mountain. We thank them sincerely for all that they have done and wish them every success in their future endeavours”.

For those interested in applying for a position with Travel Safe, please email gregcole@travelsafecoachhire.com.au.

Resort entry, parking and valet taxi fares are outlined below. Click here to download a PDF of this document.

 

[emkae]

The "Park & Ride SnowPlay" option will hopefully reduce the pressure on the mountain car parks on those weekends

 

[Hermannator]

Hope they took note of the lessons learnt from the Hotham experience when changing bus provider...

 

[djam]

Corrected pricing...





For further information please visit the Mt Buller website here or contact Resort Management.



Mt Buller Mt Stirling Resort Management
Alpine Central
Mt Buller VIC 3723
mtbuller.com.au
03 5777 6077
info@mtbuller.com.au

 

[LiveToSki]

Hope they took note of the lessons learnt from the Hotham experience when changing bus provider...

What lessons were they? (For those of us who don't know Hotham)

 

[LiveToSki]

Corrected pricing...





For further information please visit the Mt Buller website here or contact Resort Management.



Mt Buller Mt Stirling Resort Management
Alpine Central
Mt Buller VIC 3723
mtbuller.com.au
03 5777 6077
info@mtbuller.com.au

How do they compare to last year?

 

[Hermannator]

What lessons were they? (For those of us who don't know Hotham)

• The buses were too infrequent, leading to buses being full past 2 major stops. Sometimes passengers could not board at all on 2, sometimes 3 buses in a row, leading to long wait times
• Drivers were unfamiliar with the resort, where exactly certain stops were etc
• No ski racks on side of buses, exacerbating dot pt 1

If this happens at Buller, it will be an unmitigated disaster...

 

[CarveMan]

• The buses were too infrequent, leading to buses being full past 2 major stops. Sometimes passengers could not board at all on 2, sometimes 3 buses in a row, leading to long wait times
• Drivers were unfamiliar with the resort, where exactly certain stops were etc
• No ski racks on side of buses, exacerbating dot pt 1

If this happens at Buller, it will be an unmitigated disaster...

I’m glad it’s been shaken up but given we’re going through teething right now, it was my first thought.......

I still think that the Buller Village should be accessible to vehicles on a 3 stage system:

1) Road clear, all overnight 2WD can access village for 15 min drop off
2) Bit of snow, all overnight 4WD can access for 15 min drop off
3) Lots of snow, only permit 4WD can access village as per current arrangements.

 

[djam]

How do they compare to last year?

They are unchanged, see snippet from the release...

• Valet taxi fares retained at 2018 prices

 

[Chaeron]

Let’s resurface that Stirling loop already!

 

[Madski]

I’m glad it’s been shaken up but given we’re going through teething right now, it was my first thought.......

I still think that the Buller Village should be accessible to vehicles on a 3 stage system:

1) Road clear, all overnight 2WD can access village for 15 min drop off
2) Bit of snow, all overnight 4WD can access for 15 min drop off
3) Lots of snow, only permit 4WD can access village as per current arrangements.

I don’t think this would work. I think there would be to many cars in the villlage.

My preference would be to allow to allow people with access passes being allowed to pick up and drop off to the car parks.


Nice to see no price rise.

 

[djam]

I don’t think this would work. I think there would be to many cars in the villlage.

It might work if the bulk of the arrivals and departures didn't happen within a short period. It
would also require road side parking to be removed to make more room for all those extra
temporary cars.

The Stirling loop is dead, this happened to allow the Dam to go ahead. All costs towards it
have been written off. This was because one body said the loop was just an avenue to
develop Stirling. This was indirectly blocking the dam approval.

 

[Madski]

It might work if the bulk of the arrivals and departures didn't happen within a short period. It
would also require road side parking to be removed to make more room for all those extra
temporary cars.

The Stirling loop is dead, this happened to allow the Dam to go ahead. All costs towards it
have been written off. This was because one body said the loop was just an avenue to
develop Stirling. This was indirectly blocking the dam approval.

Never going to stop the Friday night arrivals and Sunday arvo departures.

Anyone know how MMBL took the news that they lost the contract?

I

 

[djam]

Never going to stop the Friday night arrivals and Sunday arvo departures.

Anyone know how MMBL took the news that they lost the contract?

I

They didn't put in a tender for the jig.. Mirimbah store has not open for the summer, nor the MMBL Mirimbah shuttle.

ATC now run the (their own) Mirimbah shuttle, though the driver has been around for a while, and posts here often.

 

[Madski]

They didn't put in a tender for the jig.. Mirimbah store has not open for the summer, nor the MMBL Mirimbah shuttle.

ATC now run the Mirimbah shuttle.

Interesting they didn’t put in a tender. Wonder why?

 

[djam]

They did have negotiations with the RMB/transport committee for almost a year before
it went out for external tender. So they did have plenty of time to come to an agreement
but it was not reached. And it seems after that, they felt they didn't want to continue.

 

[Whiteman]

They did have negotiations with the RMB/transport committee for almost a year before
it went out for external tender. So they did have plenty of time to come to an agreement
but it was not reached. And it seems after that, they felt they didn't want to continue.

Made a shit load of money and got out.

 

[travelislife]

They did have negotiations with the RMB/transport committee for almost a year before
it went out for external tender. So they did have plenty of time to come to an agreement
but it was not reached. And it seems after that, they felt they didn't want to continue.

I am guessing also that after all the previous issues with the old executive the CEO was happy for it to be pushed out for tender. But yes, interesting that MMBL didn't bother with even having a go.

 

[CarveMan]

They probably knew the writing was on the wall, I heard whispers that the RMB were trying to shake things up prior to last winter but MMBL dragged their feet knowing that Winter would halt any progress.

 

[sperks]

Is there going to be a service from Mansfield to the Mountain ? Buller web site has last years info
I always park in Mansfield and catch the bus up.

 

[wolly]

Is there going to be a service from Mansfield to the Mountain ? Buller web site has last years info
I always park in Mansfield and catch the bus up.

Yes. There will be a route service like in the past

 

[Alexg1687]

Village permit holders will have complimentary shuttles to the village from lower Tirol this year. Ie overflow car parking is no longer in csir.

Does anyone have any details about the shuttle? Is it a stand alone taxi running loops or do you have to fight it out for regular taxis with everyone else?

I ask because last year when I didn’t have a village permit I parked in lower Tirol every weekend and the wait for a taxi was an hour on Friday nights. It was completely unworkable.

 

[wolly]

Does anyone have any details about the shuttle? Is it a stand alone taxi running loops or do you have to fight it out for regular taxis with everyone else?

This....

 

[FixedGrip]

Be keen to know how the transition to the new provider is coming along - a couple of weeks ago the mail was that things were very much unfinished and the process was becoming quite messy.

 

[djam]

you might ask who? is saying that. There was a demo and buses in the square at Easter.

 

[CarveMan]

I heard at Easter that MMBL was challenging the RMB's authority to remove their right to operate the taxis. They are happy to give up the shuttles.

I also heard that the new provider was not guaranteed exclusivity in their contract so there is a possibility there could be 2 taxi services this winter.

 

[wolly]

30 day's to go

 

[Jellybeans]

I heard at Easter that MMBL was challenging the RMB's authority to remove their right to operate the taxis. They are happy to give up the shuttles.

I also heard that the new provider was not guaranteed exclusivity in their contract so there is a possibility there could be 2 taxi services this winter.

Some competition would be very good.

 

[FixedGrip]

I heard at Easter that MMBL was challenging the RMB's authority to remove their right to operate the taxis. They are happy to give up the shuttles.

I also heard that the new provider was not guaranteed exclusivity in their contract so there is a possibility there could be 2 taxi services this winter.

That all sounds well under control

Can certainly understand MMBL stepping away from the shuttles. They really needed updating, and this was possibly even a mandatory under any new contract? Big outlay.

 

[sbm_]

You guys should get some proper "disruption" going. Everyone with a permit should sign up to be an Uber driver!

 

[CarveMan]

You guys should get some proper "disruption" going. Everyone with a permit should sign up to be an Uber driver!

I'm just waiting for people with electric skateboards/scooters to whizz themselves up from the carpark.

 

[FixedGrip]

I'm just waiting for people with electric skateboards/scooters to whizz themselves up from the carpark.

The proximity of the new Corn Hill Rd carpark extension, particularly to the eastern end of the village, just screams Stealth Bike.

 

[wolly]

the local paper has reported that Bendigo Coach lines are no longer involved

 

[CarveMan]

What does that mean?

 

[Timmossy]

the local paper has reported that Bendigo Coach lines are no longer involved

You actually read it? I just buy it to get the fire going!

 

[wolly]

You actually read it? I just buy it to get the fire going!

ha. we normally dont waste our money buying it

 

[wolly]

What does that mean?

Bendigo Coachlines will be Travel Safe Australia’s primary fleet partner, providing new village shuttle buses, new carpark shuttle buses, and new valet taxis. this was cut and pasted from the original post on this thread

 

[CarveMan]

That doesn’t sound ideal.

 

[currawong]

I know nothing about this deal but in my experience of proposals/deals in other spheres, the solution bid may be quite some way from the solution delivered.

The OP said the contract would be with Travel Safe Australia. They may have painted a plausible scenario based on partnering with a particular company but not been contractually bound to use anyone in particular. They may well have been free to cobble together whatever sub-contracts they wanted to.

 

[FixedGrip]

MMBL might be willing to assist?

 

[kasper]

at easter (the Saturday morning) the new provider was pushing their app and being able to see their realtime location of taxis etc...I tried to download it and login...it doesn't seem to work for me on iOS....

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/travelsafe-supply-partner/id1386741345?mt=8

 

[hooha]

What does that mean?

means there was some very quick running around and, I'm led to believe, Travel Safe have it sorted

 

[Timmossy]

ha. we normally dont waste our money buying it

Touché.

Terrible rag, but what can you expect in this day and age.

I remember two years ago when the front page was ‘New CEO for the RMB’ - it was nothing but an advertising feature for the forthcoming season, it made no mention of the reasoning to why there was a new CEO which was the real story.

The journalist wouldn’t have had to do any investigation to tell the real story, the information was that readily available. However with the RMB being a big spender of advertising in the rag, the newspaper knew where it’s interests were and decided to publish a pathetic article instead....I’ll get Paul Barry onto it!

 

[blueandwhite]

As someone who drove up to the day car park almost every day of the season last year I'm most interested in whether they can improve the bus service from the day car park to the village. Was able to just use the horse hill lift a lot of the time last year but our situation this year requires access to the village using the bus every weekday unfortunately. based on last year I'm preparing to be underwhelmed by the frequency of this service most of the time. Was there some talk of real time info or was that just for the taxis? Some indication of how long we might be waiting for a bus in the car park would be a step in the right direction...

 

[wolly]

Touché.

Terrible rag, but what can you expect in this day and age.

I remember two years ago when the front page was ‘New CEO for the RMB’ - it was nothing but an advertising feature for the forthcoming season, it made no mention of the reasoning to why there was a new CEO which was the real story.

The journalist wouldn’t have had to do any investigation to tell the real story, the information was that readily available. However with the RMB being a big spender of advertising in the rag, the newspaper knew where it’s interests were and decided to publish a pathetic article instead....I’ll get Paul Barry onto it!

did you buy this weeks paper,, oh sorry firelighter

 

[teckel]

Now, please correct me if I'm wrong and before the thread goes too off topic. I get a lot of customers who are doing a day trip to Buller. Are you saying that if they park at Mirimbah and catch the bus to the top, it's $46 to park and all the occupants to enter the resort for the day? If so, is there a timetable for the bus? This would be a great scheme to free up parking for the overnighters. Many day trippers are scared of the road, and chains.

 

[CarveMan]

Now, please correct me if I'm wrong and before the thread goes too off topic. I get a lot of customers who are doing a day trip to Buller. Are you saying that if they park at Mirimbah and catch the bus to the top, it's $46 to park and all the occupants to enter the resort for the day? If so, is there a timetable for the bus? This would be a great scheme to free up parking for the overnighters. Many day trippers are scared of the road, and chains.

Yes that's my understanding and yes it's a great idea. NFI on the timetable, I would imagine it's a continuous service on those 8 key weekends.

 

[teckel]

Yes that's my understanding and yes it's a great idea. NFI on the timetable, I would imagine it's a continuous service on those 8 key weekends.

Where are chains normally required from? Before Mirimbah or after? Actually, where do they have to be carried from? Because if it means people don't even need to hire chains - it's a bargain!!

 

[CarveMan]

Where are chains normally required from? Before Mirimbah or after? Actually, where do they have to be carried from? Because if it means people don't even need to hire chains - it's a bargain!!

Carried from Mirimbah, so yes you're right it's killing many birds with one stone, as well as lessening the impact on the on-mountain carparks and also more unwilling/nervous drivers off the road.

Shame what happened to precipitate the change, but within the constraints of the idiotic alpine resorts act, the new buller rmb management appears to be doing a good job.

 

[djam]

I think Mark said the buses from Mirimbah run 30 minutes, but can change to 15 minutes.
They really prefer you pre book, say when leaving home, that way they can increase buses
in advance.

The new transport is shown on the app for all the the transport, with a system to tell you, it's
say 5 minutes, about to pull up and leaving. The idea being, you can take a virtual place in
a queue then go get a coffee the the app will let you know when you ride is ready.

Most this was talked about in lots of detail at the Ratepayers AGM last night.

EDIT Updated Snow Express run times.