Local community groups can hire our bus for activities and sporting events.
The semi-automatic community bus will carry either:
In the case of an accident or emergency associated with the community bus, you need to notify us straight away.
If an accident occurs, the driver must get the following details from any third party:
The community bus is available for community groups to hire.
We prioritise bookings from groups that are the most disadvantaged by a lack of adequate transport.
Bookings open to Group 1 community groups six months prior to use. If the community bus has not been booked by Group 1 community groups four weeks prior to use, then availability opens to Groups 2 and 3.
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
The community bus can be booked:
Bookings cannot be made more than:
Bookings
Follow these steps to book the community bus.
To book the community bus you must:
Download the rental rules and regulations(PDF, 210KB)
You need to book the community bus at least two weeks in advance. You can book in these ways:
Book online via Bookable
Booking instructions are available to help you use the Bookable platform.
Phone: 03 9217 2170
Email: communityfacilities@whittlesea.vic.gov.au
In person: visit our Council offices at 25 Ferres Boulevard, South Morang.
We'll confirm your booking in writing via email.
The hirer must complete the Community Bus Declaration form and provide us with a copy before taking the bus.
Download the Community Bus Declaration form(PDF, 232KB)
Collect the community bus from our Council offices at 25 Ferres Boulevard, South Morang at the booking time.
You'll receive a copy of the Rental Rules and Regulations, along with the key and the log book.
You'll need to show us your driver's license along with a signed copy of the Community Bus Declaration form. You'll also need to demonstrate your safe bus driving before you can take the bus.
View map
You have to return the bus in a clean state. If you don't, you may be charged cleaning costs plus labour and administration. To avoid being charged, we suggest you wash, vacuum and empty rubbish before returning the bus.
The community bus is supplied with a full fuel tank and must be returned with a full tank. If the bus is not filled upon return, you will be invoiced for the cost of fuel, plus labour and administration.
Please return the community bus to where you collected it from at our Council offices. You must:
Fees are based on the hirer's group type.
There are three fee types:
If you need the vehicle later than 4:30 pm or overnight, there may be a combination of hourly and daily rates.
Fees are invoiced to the hirer.
You can drive on toll roads. The buses are fitted with e-tags. If you use a toll road, you may have to pay the charges.
The hirer is fully responsible to pay all parking and driving infringements incurred during the booking time.
To cancel your community bus booking, please call us on 03 9217 2170 within 24 hours of your booking. In some cases, we may ask you to put your request for cancellation in writing to communityfacilities@whittlesea.vic.gov.au.
If you don't notify us within 24 hours, you'll have to pay a cancellation fee of $25 per day that the vehicle was booked.
The community bus is covered by our insurance policy for damage resulting from an accident.
A $1,000 excess applies. This is payable by the driver.
Here are some other important things to note:
Any mechanical or other faults must be reported to our Community Hubs Unit when you return the community bus.
It is the responsibility of every person driving the community bus, as defined under section 3 of the Bus Safety Act 2020 to ensure they:
To hire the bus, you'll need to agree and acknowledge that:
You must:
The following is strictly prohibited in the vehicle:
Learn more in the rental rules and regulations(PDF, 210KB)
You must only use the vehicle:
The vehicle cannot at any time be taken:
The City of Whittlesea will not be held responsible for any personal belongings left in the bus.
It is compulsory that the driver of the vehicle featuring the disability hoist be trained and instructed on the operations of the hoist and wheelchair restraints.
In the event of any dispute arising as the interpretation of these rules and regulation, the decision of the City of Whittlesea’s Manager of Active and Creative Communities will be final.
In the case of an accident or emergency associated with the community bus, you need to notify us straight away: