Taxi boss calls Torquay talks

Jane Emerick
Geelong Taxi Network boss Peter Valentine has called a meeting with Torquay businesses and officials to work on solving the town’s shortage of cab services.
But he said Torquay was too quiet for more taxis and called on organisations to stop running shuttle and community buses in competition to cabs.
Mr Valentine defended his company’s service after the Independent last week revealed taxis refusing Torquay trips over Geelong fares.
Hospitality businesses complained the shortage was hurting tourism, inconveniencing patrons and threatening public safety after dark.
Mr Valentine said a suggestion in last week’s story for a second taxi company operating out of Torquay was not the solution.
He said his company’s four drivers based in Torquay were already short of work.
“We need to get people to use the taxis first. It will be a slow process to get people to trust the service again but that is the way to improve things,” Mr Valentine said.
“The hotel has introduced a mini-bus service on peak nights. Well maybe it should get rid of it.
“It’s the same with shuttles and community buses. What people don’t understand is that if the town takes away the work from the taxi services then there will be no taxi service.
“There’s nothing I’d like more than to have more taxis in Torquay doing lots of runs but that’s not the case. The drivers there now are struggling to get work.”
“Until the work is there drivers are not going to sit around with one or two fares a day.
“I want to sit down with the shire, tourism and hotel operators and see what kind of service they want and how we can make it work for them and everyone in Torquay.”
Torquay Commerce and Tourism president David Muir was keen to meet Mr Valentine but said his company faced a significant challenge.
“There is a lot of down time for a taxi-driver in Torquay. After 8pm from Sunday to Wednesday there isn’t a lot going on and it’s hard to pay for the cost of having the car here,” Mr Muir said.
Councillor Dean Webster said the shire would also be willing to meet Mr Valentine.
Cr Webster said a second taxi service was not the solution.