Question - Transport

MR PARTON: My question is to the Minister for Transport and City Services, and it pertains to the 35 orange and blue Renault buses we touched on yesterday in here, which must cease service at the end of December. 

Minister, specifically, at that point at the end of December, once the Renaults are retired, how many buses will remain in the entire fleet?

MR STEEL: I thank the member for his question. It is in the four-hundreds. I am happy to take that on notice and come back with a more specific answer for Mr Parton on the number of buses we will have in the fleet.

At this point in time, we are replacing the existing bus fleet that is aging. We set out that renewal program for the fleet in our zero emissions plan for Transport Canberra, and we are following that plan. It starts with 34 diesel buses. It then continues on to the compressed natural gas buses, which have a hard-year end of life. Then we will, of course, start replacing the rest of the diesel bus fleet over time, as we bring in more zero emissions buses, and we are out for procurement at the moment delivering on our election commitment to purchase 90 electric buses.

The old Renault Diesel Buses will be progressively retired and sent for disposal as the new vehicles are commissioned and entered into service. The number of buses in the fleet will not change (456 operational fleet vehicles).

Supply chain issues experienced by the manufacturer has disrupted the delivery of the 26 leased low emission diesel buses. These impacts resulted in manufacturers needing to seek new suppliers and develop new logistics arrangements to source and receive required materials. As a result, the timing of the 26 leased low emission diesel buses entering service has been delayed.

Of the 34 replacement buses, 12 leased battery electric buses are expected to be in operation in early 2023 and the 26 leased lower emission diesel buses are now expected to be in operation in the 22-23 FY.