The State Government said there was not enough reason to have a fully serviced office run by Service SA in Clare because start up costs of an estimated $1 million were prohibitive.

Instead they offered an agency to the Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council.

Under the agency agreement, the council would provide the office space and staff in return for a $750 payment every three months from the government, plus a small percentage from each over-the-counter transaction.

Council chief executive officer Roy Blight foresaw problems with staff time, especially during busy periods, and the resultant additional cost to the community for council to provide the service.

“I think this is an insult to the council – if we were to try to operate a Service SA counter here it would become a shambles,” councillor Allan Rye said.

“I think we would lose face and the trust of our ratepayers.”

Cr Rye went on to move that the council decline to take on the facility and refer Services SA to other potential service providers in Clare.

“Services like this are the responsibility of the State government not the council, but they are willing to push it off on to us, and if we succumb to their pressures we will be losers,” Cr Dianne Schwartz said when she seconded the motion.

In a report to Monday night’s council meeting (August 18) Mr Blight said three other local organisations had expressed an interest in hosting the facility.

Service SA began negotiations with Australia Post, Bill Express newsagent outlets and local government councils in February to make arrangements for a Service SA Centre in regional South Australian towns, including Clare.

When the agency is established services would include driver licence theory tests and the issuing of new learner’s permits, transfer of registration and replacement driver’s licences.

Although there is no current timeline it was anticipated an agency would open in Clare some time this year.

Clare residents stopped being able to undertake some simple Transport SA business at their local police station in 2005, leaving them the option of travelling to Port Pirie, Gawler or Kadina for services they could not easily conduct over the internet or at the local post office. These included Learner Driver permit tests and vehicle ownership transfers.

A Service SA agency in Clare would provide equity between rural and city dwellers, support the town’s growth as a regional centre and bring it in line with facilities available at other major regional hubs.