Public transport is too often overlooked in regional centres but has an important role to play. Passenger numbers might be nowhere near the figures you see in the metropolitan centres but those who use bus services in the regional centres rely on them perhaps even more heavily than clients in the big cities.

Social isolation tends to be a greater issue in regional centres and public transport can often mean the difference between a day at home or alone or the chance to mix with others in town – particularly for the elderly and low income earners.

And the users of public transport are often among the more disenfranchised in society, those who can struggle to have their voices heard. But if there were ever any doubts about the importance of bus services to a core group of regular passengers in Bathurst then they were put to rest three years ago when Bathurst Buslines announced major changes to the local timetable.

Dissatisfaction with the changes led to the formation of the Bathurst Bus Community Action Group and suddenly the disenfranchised were demanding to be heard.

Passengers were frustrated, they said, by the gaps between the services in the afternoon and on the weekend, the poor connectivity between routes and the fact that claimed buses were often running late.

Meetings were arranged with key stakeholders, including senior executives from the Buslines Group, local member Paul Toole, Transport for NSW and Bathurst Regional Council, but reportedly failed to reach a successful outcome. The concerns were take as far as then Transport Minister [and current premier] Gladys Berejiklian seeking a solution.

That all proved just how important public transport is, even in a regional centre, and provided a lesson that providers would do well to remember.

For all that, though, bus services – and all public transport options – must be sustainable, and that’s why this IPART review holds such promise.

By definition, these services will never be self-funding and a level of government support is both essential and reasonable. But there also needs a fare structure in place that meets the needs of both the service users and providers. Have your say now.