Noosa Transport Plan - Your Say

[ozbob]

Noosa Transport Plan - Your Say

Traffic congestion is having an increasing impact on Noosa's lifestyle, business, amenity and environment due to the significant increase in the number of people travelling here for leisure, services and work.

We need to change the way we organise transport in Noosa to make travelling easier for residents and our long-stay visitors to ensure a more sustainable future. Council is seeking your input on the Draft Transport Plan between May 24 and June 14

>> https://yoursay.noosa.qld.gov.au/noosa-transport-strategy-2016-2036

[ozbob]

[Stillwater]

Interesting inclusions in thinking for a Noosa Transport Strategy

: plan for moving people and goods, not vehicles
:provide infrastructure and services that are designed to give priority to pedestrians, cyclists and public transport over cars

One of the desired outcomes is that "all members of the Noosa community are able to go about their everyday business without needing to use a private car."

The council website states that: "continued reliance upon the private car for virtually all journeys within Noosa Shire will seriously erode the nature and quality of the environment in which residents and visitors invest. Whilst continued car ownership is accepted, responsible use is advocated.'"

The council aims to address traffic congestion not by providing greater on-road capacity for more vehicle movements, but to engineer a "staged reduction in road capacity" which means that 'congestion' levels remain the same but the impact is greatly reduced as fewer and fewer people are impacted by the congestion.  They will be using feet, bicycles and PT more, according to the thinking.

An analysis of travel patterns shows, for example, that "the residents of the Noosa Hinterland are more likely to travel to Nambour, Eumundi and Gympie while coastal residents are more likely to travel to Coolum, Maroochydore and southern and central Sunshine Coast destinations for work. Residents of Peregian, in particular, are more strongly aligned to the central Sunshine Coast destinations for work trips than other parts of Noosa.

In one of the proposals put forward, Parsons-Brinkerhoff, the consultants looking at this exercise on behalf of the council, suggests partnerships with public transport providers could help local needs to be realised as part of a larger integrated transport system.

"The rail service from Nambour to Gympie would appear to be an ideal candidate for a community partnership trial scheme which would involve the State Government and Gympie, Sunshine Coast and Noosa councils with an aim of improving services, coordination and marketing."

It is not clear what a "community partnership trial" is, but it probably will be fleshed out in a final document that sifts through the thought bubbles.

Seems the next stage is adoption of a transport strategy and five-year action plan.

https://yoursay.noosa.qld.gov.au/noosa-transport-strategy-2016-2036

[Stillwater]

Preparation of the Noosa Transport Plan extended to cope with the many good ideas put forward:

http://www.noosa.qld.gov.au/media-releases/-/asset_publisher/Iif6ygeQkN00/content/noosa-transport-strategy-needs-to-take-its-time?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.noosa.qld.gov.au%2Fmedia-releases%3Fp_p_id%3D101_INSTANCE_Iif6ygeQkN00%26p_p_lifecycle%3D0%26p_p_state%3Dnormal%26p_p_mode%3Dview%26p_p_col_id%3Dcolumn-2%26p_p_col_count%3D1

[ozbob]

Noosa Transport Strategy 2017-2027

>> https://yoursay.noosa.qld.gov.au/noosa-transport-strategy-2016-2036

Noosa Council has engaged with consultants, key stakeholders and the community to understand both the transport challenges in Noosa as well as the possible solutions. Council has welcomed the hundreds of ideas and suggestions on addressing Noosa's traffic and transport issues.

The Draft Noosa Transport Strategy 2017-2027 proposes the following strategies over the next 1-2 years (2017/18 & 2018/19). (See document library for a copy of the Strategy)

    Trial temporary Park-and-Ride services during peak holiday periods and conduct a detailed study to determine the preferred location, demand, and likely capacity of a successful Park-and-Ride facility.

    Subject to investigation, and in keeping with the Noosa look and feel, introduce car parking management controls (e.g. paid parking) in congested areas with variable controls for residents and non-residents and also peak and off-peak periods.

    Trial a high frequency Noosa Style Shuttle Bus to service key destinations between Tewantin and Sunshine Beach.
    Implement an Active Travel to Schools Program, with supportive schools that experience significant traffic and congestion issues.

    Subject to feasibility, trial a Priority Transport Lane on Noosa Parade for sustainable transport modes (buses, bicycles, scooters, electric vehicles etc.).

    Investigate charging a congestion fee to enter the Hastings Street precinct during peak holiday periods (with different considerations for residents and non-residents), with revenue going to support sustainable transport initiatives.