The issue was discussed at a meeting of the Alexandra Council of Social Services last week, at which chairwoman Deirdre Jolly and two members formed a group to ascertain what could be done to help those unable to get to the doctor, supermarket, or hospital.
Yesterday, Mrs Jolly, of Alexandra, said a planned new service would fill the gap left when Alexandra's sole taxi service closed earlier this year.
"I'm delighted. That's exactly what we want.
"I'm sure the elderly people in particular will be grateful there is a taxi-like service again," she said.
Central Wine Tours owner Connie Crosbie has a nine-seater van and four-seater car which she plans to use to drive people in and around Central Otago.
Mrs Crosbie, of Earnscleugh, near Alexandra, said she was prompted to start the service when she learnt how difficult it was for some residents to travel for basic needs.
There was also a lack of transport services for people wanting to be driven in groups, to or from functions, or on shopping trips, for example, she said.
Cromwell's sole taxi service has also closed.
Mrs Crosbie is waiting to be sent her transport service licence and passenger service licence, which will enable her to accept payment for carrying passengers.
The business will operate like a taxi service, with people contacting her and booking a trip. Fares will be based on those charged by the former Alexandra taxi service, or negotiated.
"I'm pretty flexible during the day and can be on-call between 8.30am and 5pm. If someone wants me to drive them outside those hours it can be pre-arranged, as long as I have some time to organise it.
"I'm happy to take people to Wanaka, Queenstown, Omakau, and even Dunedin, for example, or just to the supermarket, hospital, doctor, or library.
"I don't mind being on call during the week, but if people ring five minutes before they need to get somewhere, that's not so viable for me," Mrs Crosbie said.
She will consider going through a legal process to expand her "private car hire" business into a formal taxi service, if demand warrants it.
Taxi services must be available 24 hours a day, and without a taxi licence, Mrs Crosbie can not be hailed from the side of the road by a potential client.
She will be able to accept mobility vouchers subsidised by the Otago Regional Council, which enable clients to pay a reduced fare and the driver to claim reimbursement for the remaining cost from the council.
Such vouchers are used often by the elderly.
