Councillors to vote on taxi rank site

Following the three-month trial relocation of the South Hedland taxi rank, Town of Port Hedland councillors will decide on whether to approve a permanent relocation at a council meeting this week.

In April, councillors agreed to relocate the South Hedland Square rank after “ongoing issues including loitering and antisocial behaviour.”

Following the completion of the trial, the Town’s community safety adviser Keesha Booth conducted face-to-face and telephone consultation with all relevant stakeholders which identified all agreeing the new taxi rank location was suitable to become a permanent site.

If the council agrees on the agenda item this week, they will also be approving the consideration of shade options for the taxi rank in the 2017-18 budget.

In September this year the relocation was labelled a success by acting officer-in-charge Sergeant Andrew Ramsden.

“What can be directly observed as a result of the relocation of the taxi stand is a reduction in negative social media responses, a reduction in reported crime and positive feedback from the community — a perception that the move has been successful,” he said.

“The successful relocation to a more ‘open-design’ area has relieved congestion, resulting in fewer antisocial behaviours traditionally observed when people are required to wait for services in more densely populated locations.”

Despite the support, the consultation identified a number of issues that “would be reviewed after the council meeting by internal Town of Port Hedland directorates once approved by council”.

The issues included the need for an additional bin, shade for drivers, improved lighting of the rank at night, a designated drop-off zone for disabled and elderly clients, an extension of rank parking line from bays six to nine, and a review of the width of the rank.