Wollongong City Council has thrown its support behind a public transport subsidy to help residents cope with the ongoing fuel crisis. The council has written to Transport Minister John Graham requesting a four-week subsidy for bus and train fares to cushion the impact of high fuel costs and reduce fuel consumption.
The move comes in response to a question from Greens Councillor Deidre Stuart about the effects of higher fuel prices on the council. Council papers state that there is no cause for alarm at the moment, with no interruptions to fuel supplies affecting council services.
However, if elevated fuel prices continue for an extended period, there may be some budget impact, though this is not expected to affect service delivery. To prepare for potential disruptions, the council established a Fuel Supply Risk Working Group last month, comprising senior staff tasked with assessing the council's ability to manage future fuel supply shocks.
The group has quantified fuel burn rates for critical plant and fleet, identified top fuel-consuming activities, and engaged with key suppliers and emergency services for continuity planning. While no short-term interruptions are anticipated, the council has developed plans to respond to a range of fuel shortage scenarios if they eventuate.
The council is actively monitoring the situation and is ready to adapt operations if fuel shortages or price spikes escalate.
