Ministerial Statement: 11,000 new seats and a new permanent airport bus service

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan

Thursday, December 02, 2010

11,000 new seats and a new permanent airport bus service

Sunshine Coast residents will soon have more than 11,000 new weekly bus seats under a new $1.2 million bus improvement package.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said the Queensland Government in partnership with Sunshine Coast Regional Council were delivering 248 extra bus services each week across the Sunshine Coast from Monday, December 13.

The bus package highlights include:

Improvements to routes 600, 602, 612, 613, 614, 619, 620 and 622

A permanent Sunshine Coast Airport service with a revised route 622 replacing the current shuttle

More weekend services for routes 600, 619 and 620

    * New route between Maroochydore and Kawana (614) and a new route number between Maroochydore and Nambour (612).

"One of the highlights of this package is the revised route 622 which provides a permanent link from the Sunshine Coast Airport north to Noosa and south to Maroochydore," Ms Nolan said.

"The increased frequency on other routes will benefit regular bus users and help establish public transport as a viable alternative for those not yet using public transport, particularly on the weekend.

"The Sunshine Coast is an important part of the TransLink network which is why the State Government continues to invest in new services and infrastructure such as the new bus services and a $5.5 million University of the Sunshine Coast bus station in June 2009."

Ms Nolan commended the Sunshine Coast Council for their continued support of public transport through the Public Transport Levy which contributes just over half the funding this financial year for this service improvement package.

Sunshine Coast Council Transport Chair Vivien Griffin said the new improvements created a strong north south link along the most populated coastline area.

"You will be able to catch a bus every 15 minutes any day between Caloundra and Maroochydore on the route 600, or every 30 minutes any day between Maroochydore and Noosa on route 620," Cr Griffin said.

"The final arrangement for linking the airport into the public transport system is long awaited.

"Investment from the public transport levy has meant that we were able to bring forward these benefits much earlier than would have otherwise occurred."

Transit Australia Group spokesperson Megan Harkin said Sunbus was looking forward to implementing the service changes.

"The improvements to the network's coverage and service frequencies reflected the growth of the region as a whole and the increasing numbers of locals choosing to use public transport," Ms Harkin said.

Timetables and information will be available from the following locations:

Wednesday 8 December

    * Kawana Shoppingworld bus interchange (6.30-10.30am)

    * Maroochydore Sunshine Plaza bus interchange (2.30-6.30pm)

Thursday 9 December

    * Maroochydore Sunshine Plaza bus interchange (6.30-10.30am)

    * Kawana Shoppingworld bus interchange (2.30-6.30pm)

Updated timetables and details of the bus package will be on the TransLink website www.translink.com.au from November 29.

Customers can also call TransLink on 13 12 30 for more details on the improvements.

[Mozz]

Reading the topic I got a bit excited and thought that they might have sorted the airport train stopping at 8pm

[mufreight]

Mozz, you were not the only one, but with the track record of the current Minister despite her espousals of mirror mirror on the wall there is still no result other than spin from the Ministers revolving door discussions with the Airport Rail operator we should not be surprised or dissapointed.

[Golliwog]

I think this is good. Just wondering though, how are these going to be put in the new tally? Are they going to be put in? Or do services only count after the next fare increase? Its 11,000 seats, but not all of them are funded by Translink, as they point out there is funding from the local council's transport levy.

[#Metro]

Good stuff. Yes they should count towards the tally.

[Fares_Fair]

Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan

Thursday, December 02, 2010

11,000 new seats and a new permanent airport bus service

"The Sunshine Coast is an important part of the TransLink network which is why the State Government continues to invest in new services and infrastructure such as the new bus services and a $5.5 million University of the Sunshine Coast bus station in June 2009."

Ms Nolan commended the Sunshine Coast Council for their continued support of public transport through the Public Transport Levy which contributes just over half the funding this financial year for this service improvement package.

So more than half the money comes from the Sunshine Coast Regional Council ratepayers.
I'm certainly happy for the extra services provided, that's good news.

But her statement that "The Sunshine Coast is an important part of the TransLink network which is why the State Government continues to invest in new services and infrastructure" is a real furphy.

Where is the investment in the duplication of the rail line Ms Nolan ?

First we were told it would be duplication Beerburrum to Landsborough in 2012,
then we were told it would be to Nambour by 2026 - but that has all disappeared off the screen.
Now it's part of an unfunded plan to be completed sometime after 2031 !

The north of Beerburrum single track bottlenecks must be removed in order for QR to provide more services to the Sunshine Coast region IMHO, that or more stabling facilities as an interim measure to boost services.
Any other ideas or solutions would be gratefully received.

The Sunshine Coast - Brisbane transport corridor is the next crisis.
It's started already.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.