Free off-peak travel for elderly people under the SuperGold
card is set to exceed its annual $18 million budget and the
Government is looking at ways of reining it in which may
impact on services.
A Transport Ministry/NZ Transport Agency discussion document
released today suggests changes, including reducing the rate
that providers are reimbursed; capping reimbursement
payments; changing what services are eligible and removing or
reducing payments for administration costs.
Transport Minister Steven Joyce said the review was always
planned once the scheme, which started in October 2008, had
run for a while.
The scheme would be kept but changes were needed.
"The highest priority of the review process is to consider
how to keep the scheme within the available budget of $18m a
year, while continuing to provide improved mobility for older
people."
Officials would look at how "off peak" should be defined and
consider eligibility of certain high cost services -
including the Waiheke ferry and the train service between
Wellington and the Wairarapa.
"The transport concession of the SuperGold card has an annual
budget of $18 million dollars across the country - $2 million
of that is currently spent on the Waiheke ferry alone," Mr
Joyce said.
Key stakeholding groups will be consulted.
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