From June 16, 2008 the Department for Planning and Infrastructure (DPI) will begin taking over responsibility for licence assessments previously undertaken by police at regional towns including Augusta, Manjimup, Denmark and Mt Barker.

“We have been assured that mobile assessors will visit these communities on a regular basis but the proof of whether current service levels are maintained will be in the pudding,” Mr Redman said.

“Since the State Government first signalled these changes in 2007, I have been urging them to make public the detail of what alternative arrangements they planned to introduce to ensure current service levels were maintained.

“It is frustrating that the Government has left country people in the dark over the new arrangements and it is crucial that they get that information out into the community to provide some reassurance to residents in all the communities impacted by the changes.

“As the deadline for the changeover looms, I have been receiving calls from people around the South West worried about whether they will still have access to a local assessment service.”

Mr Redman said seniors in particular had been concerned at the daunting possibility of having to travel to a larger town to have their drivers licences reviewed once their local police no longer carry out that task.

“We have now received an assurance from the DPI that they will be providing a visiting assessment service in every town where assessments are currently carried out by police,” Mr Redman said.

“Initially I believe assessors will visit Manjimup weekly and Augusta, Denmark and Mt Barker fortnightly to carry out assessments for licences up to and including heavy vehicle.

“How often assessors visit each town has been assessed on current demand, and I am assured that more frequent visits will be arranged if the need is there.

“I will be monitoring the new arrangements very closely and will certainly be calling for more resources if there is any shortfall in service to these communities.”