Gin Gin CWA launches petition against closure of local Driver Reviver site

A community group is fighting to keep the Gin Gin driver reviver open with fears its closure will make that stretch of the Bruce Hwy even more dangerous.

The Driver Reviver centre services more than 100 people on busy days during holidays.

A driver reviver that services an average of 70 travellers a day is in danger of being closed down by the state government.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads has issued notices advising the Gin Gin Driver Reviver – which has been operating for three decades offering tea, coffee and snacks to weary travellers for gold coin donations – will be closed next year.

Volunteer organisers Gin Gin Country Women’s Association has launched a petition against the closure, with president Pamela Rebbeck saying it could add to road accidents in the region.

“There’s been lots of accidents above Gin Gin and I am thinking about those who lose their cars, their lives, their loved ones,” she said.

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“There’s also the first responders who have to attend these scenes and the hospital system is already stretched to the limit.”

The association received a notice about the looming closure which said as the Department of Transport and Main Roads was no longer involved in the Driver Reviver program, the site would have to close.

Pamela Rebbeck and the Gin Gin CWA are calling for the state government to keep the Gin Gin Driver Reviver open.

It said the site, on state-owned land, did not meet necessary workplace health and safety requirements and would close on January 2, 2023.

Mrs Rebbeck said volunteers were prepared to fix the issues but they need a response from the government before they start to raise funds.

“Why can’t we allow local tradies to do the work?” she said.

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A Transport and Main Roads department spokesman said there were about 43 Driver Revivers – about half of which were managed by the government and others by councils or community groups – and 450 rest areas across the state.

He said the department was working with the council and community groups to find an alternate location for the Gin Gin Driver Reviver.

“We are still consulting with volunteer groups and local councils about the outcome for each site,” he said.

Mrs Rebbeck also said there were talk of shifting it to a private location in town, but the lack of accessible parking would be an issue.

“There’s just not enough room for caravans and boats to stop somewhere in town,” she said.

She said the loss of the site was also a blow to the community.

“A lot of the money we collect from donations goes towards sending local high school students to driver education programs in Gympie,” she said.

She feared the closure would mean there were more tired drivers on the highway, as well as more uneducated drivers.

The department spokesman said organisations or councils who want to manage their own driver reviver sites can at Visitor Information Centres or alternate locations, in consultation with the National Driver Reviver Program.

He said there was a drop off in use of Driver Revivers, believed to be due to more petrol stations, cafes and convenience stores being available and drivers opting to stop there instead.

“Regardless of that drop in patronage at Driver Revivers, we still encourage drivers to take a break while driving and to act on any signs of fatigue,” the spokesman said.