2019-04-15 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                   15 APRIL 2019


Sunshine Coast Council
   Monitoring the outcome of the Brisbane City Council trial.
   Will take a considered approach to electric scooters in due course.


3.   Regulatory Framework

   The Australian regulatory framework does not provide for the clear legal use of many new
     devices that are now available.
   Prior to November 2018, electric scooters did not fit within existing legal definitions.
   In November 2018, Queensland legislation was changed creating new rules for “rideables”
     - Transport Operations (Road Use Management Road Rules) - (Personal Mobility Devices)
     Amendment Regulation 2018.
   The changes to Queensland legislation allow people over the age of 16 to own powered
     scooters, as well as to rideshare.
   The National Transport Commission is still investigating how electric scooters can be safely
     used in Australia and will release a discussion paper in June 2019.
   Council has the ability to regulate commercial operations on council controlled community
     land via its Local Laws and policy. Council’s Subordinate Local Law No. 4 specifies use of
     a government controlled area for commercial purposes is a restricted activity which is only
     permitted when authorised by an approval (permit) issued under Local Law No. 1 and the
     Commercial Use of Community Land Policy.
   Council also has the ability to establish zones where shared mobility devices are excluded.
     To facilitate this action, Council would be required to amend Subordinate Local Law No. 4
     to include the use of electric scooters to the list of restricted activities.
   Private electric scooter businesses can still operate from private property offering hiring of
     electric scooters for tourists and guests and are subject to planning provisions and state
     legislation noted above.

4.   Neon Ride Permit Application

Council has recently received an application for a permit from NR seeking permission to operate
an electric scooter business on community land. Specifically, NR seeks:
    A three month trial outside of the tourist season;
    To utilise a maximum fleet size of 100 units;
    Provide scooter availability between 7am and 9pm;
    To implement a $1 flagfall to commence a trip plus $.30 cents per minute of riding time;
      and
    Consideration of an additional ride levy on each trip to be provided to Council.

NR suggests their electric scooter offering will provide many benefits to the community including:
   Presenting tourists with an exciting way to see Noosa’s beautiful sights;
   Providing a fun and convenient alternative to car dependency;
   Complementing existing public transport programs, reducing congestion and reducing
     stress on parking;
   Increasing the mobility of citizens and tourists, which in turn increases patronage of local
     businesses and restaurants;
   Adding jobs to the economy through hiring independent contractors paid to pick up
     scooters and take them home for charging; and
   An operating model which is cost effective, popular and is open to the public to enjoy.


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