But its chairman Bob Triming says the committee will not be contacting the coach company for the moment while it allows Bathurst Regional Council to do its own mediation.

Australia Wide Coaches’ decision to move its pick-up and drop-off from the Acropole to the Bathurst Visitor Information Centre about three months ago has proved controversial.

The new location has been criticised – including, last week, by councillor Monica Morse – for its lack of lighting, seating, shelter and safety.

Australia Wide Coaches managing director Richard Dawes has defended the move, saying a survey of the company’s travelling clients found they wanted to be able to park all day at the pick-up point, which was not possible at the Acropole, and questioning why a city’s visitor centre would be considered unsafe.

Bathurst Regional Access Committee (BRAC) discussed the coach service’s move at the most recent committee meeting, according to Mr Triming.

He said the BRAC favours the pick-up and drop-off returning to the bus stop outside the Acropole because this location conforms to the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport Act 2002.

“Hundreds of people in wheelchairs catch buses there each week,” he said.

Mr Triming said the committee’s concerns about the visitor information centre location included the lack of lighting, compliant street furniture and an accessible path to the pick-up point.

He said the car park behind Bathurst McDonald’s, which was suggested last week by Cr Morse as a better location than the visitor centre, would still be unacceptable in the committee’s opinion.

“In the event of adverse weather, electronic mobility aids would not be able to be used at the current coach point or McDonald’s as opposed to the shelter provided at the Acropole,” he said.

“While toilets are not required to be installed at a bus stop, in this case where long distance travel is being undertaken, and the inability of most wheelchairs to navigate inside a bus to the on-board facility, I would argue it is a requirement that I would be willing to contest with the AHRC [Australian Human Rights Commission].

“The toilets at McDonald’s are a fair distance, by wheelchair, from the proposed rear car park pick-up.”

Mr Triming said the Acropole also had a taxi stand nearby.

“Not everyone, especially people with disabilities, have mobile phones, so how do you summons taxis [at the McDonald’s car park]?” he asked.

“At the Acropole, at drop-off time especially, there are plenty of taxis in the area just across the road and just down from the Acropole.

“You can just go a very short distance to summons a taxi if you don't have phone facilities.”

A Bathurst Regional Council spokesperson said council is in discussions with the parties involved in the coach location matter “to mediate a solution to concerns raised by the community”.