Phase 1 Overview
Phase 1 will operate at the Coffs Harbour Marina, travelling along the Northern Breakwall to Muttonbird Island.
The Northern Breakwall offers an ideal testing location for our first phase as it’s a high profile and controlled environment for local residents and tourists to experience the vehicle and participate in the trial.
Here the vehicle will operate at slow speed along the Northern Breakwall on a shared path with pedestrians and cyclists.
Safety will be the first priority at every stage of the trial, with a vehicle attendant on-board the vehicle to monitor and approve decisions made by the vehicle technology.
Phase 1 Travel Times
BusBot will be at the Northern Breakwall for 8 weeks, making 30 trips per day between 8am and 12pm, 6 days a week (Monday-Saturday, closed public holidays).
Phase 1 BusBot design through Gumbaynggirr Wajaarr collaboration
The BusBot project recognises the Gumbaynggirr Wajaarr (Country) as the traditional owners in the Coffs Harbour region. Muttonbird Island is of significant important to the Gumbaynggirr Wajaarr people.
Out of respect, we have taken an approach to immerse the BusBot vehicle into the local landscape, creating an experience where the vehicle technology is in the background, not the focal point.
We have engaged with the Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance, a not-for-profit organisation representing ten Local Aboriginal Land Councils on the NSW Mid North Coast who ensure effective community engagement and representation across the region.
Through the social enterprise and commercial arm of the Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance, we have worked with the National Aboriginal Design Agency (NADA) to design the BusBot livery for Phase 1 of the trial. NADA protects Aboriginal culture and artists from misappropriation, and provides a sustainable and authentic Aboriginal design industry to collaborate with organisations interested in meaningful Aboriginal design.
This partnership resulted in an amazing collaboration with Coffs Harbour High School, where 11 young Aboriginal artists participate in an art workshop facilitated by two local Elders. Following a selection panel process the winning design was turned into the Phase 1 BusBot livery.