Serena Kirby, Denmark Bulletin
A committee has been formed to help secure an electric commuter van.
The move is to reduce social isolation, created by Denmark’s lack of community transport.
This commuter van will offer a green transportation option for community groups and residents.
It aims to provide transport for bringing residents into Denmark’s town centre and to have a transport link to Albany, one or two days a week.
It is anticipated that the vehicle could clock up about 40,000km a year.
Committee member Gillian Corker said the van would ideally have the capacity to carry 11 people which would enable volunteers using a standard driver’s licence to drive it.
The committee was looking at suitable vehicles and would like a van that included a wheelchair lift.
Gillian said the committee would like to hear from people who use a wheelchair and who may use the van’s service so this need could be conï¬rmed.
“We also want to hear from people about how this (the van) would impact their lives and what a difference it would make to the community,” she said.
The cost of the van is expected to be almost $200,000 and the committee was seeking Lottery-west funding to add to the $40,000 already secured from the Denmark Community Foundation.
Fellow-committee member Petra Thompson said ‘community buy-in’ was needed and could be indicated via a recently-established GoFundMe page.
“It doesn’t matter how little or how much you donate and, even if you donate $1, as it’s all about showing Lotterywest that a high number of community members support the project,” Petra said.
“Of course we’d also love to secure more funds from a major donor.”
The committee is talking to the Shire about ‘in-kind’ support as well as looking for sponsorship from local businesses.
To show support and make a donation look for ‘Denmark Community eBus’ on the GoFundMe website or contact the Denmark Community Resource Centre on 9848 2842.
This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 12 September 2024.