DAREBIN: E-scooters under scrutiny
City of Darebin resident John Gorman had detailed questions about e-scooter’s for Vanessa Petrie (pictured), the Council’s General Manager City Sustainability and Strategy.
“On page 11 of the Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes of June 24, 2024, there appears to be a recommendation (at paragraph 5(b)) for the “Removal of E-scooter project: $50,000”,” Mr Gorman said.
“Does this refer to the money being used for the e-scooter trial and if so, how did it come to return to the budget?
“Is Darebin Council aware of Yarra Council reporting in the ABC that its own e-scooter trial ended up costing an estimated $750,000 in the 2024 financial year? Does Darebin Council expect a trial here to cost no more than $50,000?
“What procurement policies or other guidance would Darebin Council have to follow in
order to subsidise multinational companies?”
Ms Petrie, at the latest Council meeting, replied: “Regarding your first question, this was an officer recommendation for Council to note the item had been amended since the draft budget.
“The item was amended by Council to “Addition of $50,000 to commence the E-scooter Trial project in 2025” and adopted as part of the 2024-25 Annual Budget. $50,000 was spent on planning work for the trial.
“The City of Yarra’s circumstances are unique and involve an ongoing VCAT case. The publicly reported costs of their e-scooter trial do not reflect the information we’ve obtained regarding typical expenditure for shared e-scooter trials in Victoria.
“Council is not procuring e-scooters for the trial. They are owned and operated by private
companies who pay a daily fee to Council,” Ms Petrie said.