Penguin could lose its only taxi service after the operators of a 16-year-old business were given notice to leave their rental home and have been unable to find another property in town.
Craig Maher and Karen Standley have run Penguin Taxi Service from their home for 16 years, operating two cars while providing transport for locals who rely on the service.
But after their landlord sold the property, the couple was given 55 days to leave.
With no affordable rentals available in Penguin, they are now looking at properties in nearby Ulverstone – a move Maher says would make the business unviable.
“We work from home because … we can sit downtown for seven hours and not get a job,” he told Pulse.
“We’re not gonna be able to do that from Ulverstone.”
“So that’s gonna mean shutting the service down, walking away, leaving the town without a taxi.”
Maher said relocating eight kilometres away would add significant costs, with multiple trips back to Penguin each day becoming unsustainable.
“You do that six or seven times a day, that’s gonna work out a lot with the price of fuel at the minute,” he said.
There are no other taxi operators or rideshare services operating in Penguin.
Maher said the loss of the service would most affect residents who have limited transport options.
“Penguin’s a hilly place and they rely on us,” he said.
“We haven’t got a big clientele, but we’ve got a clientele that relies on us often.”
Central Coast Council Mayor Cheryl Fuller said losing the service would be a significant blow to the town.
“Penguin is not particularly well serviced by public transport, as are many of the towns on the north West Coast,” Fuller told Pulse.
“Taxi service and community service providers are a key part to making sure that people can get around safely.”
Fuller said the council did not have any suitable properties in its portfolio for Maher and Standley but urged anyone with a rental property to consider helping the couple.
“I would really encourage anyone that might own a property or that might be in a position to help them to do so and give them some sort of priority so that they can continue to provide that service,” she said.
Maher said the business had been listed for sale on and off for years but had attracted no interest.
“We’re doing it because we enjoy it and we’re doing it to sort of help a community out that needs it,” he said.
“We’re not making much money. We’re not doing it to be rich.”
Anyone who can help with accommodation in Penguin or is interested in taking over the business can contact 0417 506 851.
