The councillor requested an independent review of the administration of the School Transport Infrastructure Program (STIP) by the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
The councillor raised particular concerns on submissions for funding made by Varsity College families. The councillor also raised concerns that:
- the department may be dismissing meritorious suggestions by improperly applying the eligibility criteria for the STIP; and
- the minister’s discretion to fully fund selected projects may undermine overall safety outcomes.
We responded to the member on 28 July 2023.
We advised the councillor that we reviewed the process applied by the Department of Transport and Main Roads in assessing the submissions made by the Varsity College families.
Based on our review, we are satisfied the department followed the assessment and approval process included in the STIP Program Development Guidelines when assessing these submissions.
These guidelines identify a 2-stage process when applying for STIP funding. Stage 1 involves the submitting of a ‘STIP idea’, which can be from a school or member of the community. The submissions made by the Varsity College families were assessed as ‘STIP ideas’ under the guidelines.
Stage 2 requires the completion of a ‘STIP nomination form’. The guidelines require these forms to be completed and submitted by the responsible asset owners. For the submission referred to by the councillor, the required form was not submitted by the responsible asset owners – the Gold Coast City Council and Varsity College.
Accordingly, the STIP ideas submitted by the Varsity College families did not proceed further.