Townsville - Public Transport

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Queensland Parliament Hansard - Private Member Statements

http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2013/2013_05_02_DAILY.pdf

Townsville, Public Transport

Mr COX (Thuringowa—LNP) (3.47 pm): This year I took on board the issue of public transport services in the Townsville region where my electorate of Thuringowa is based. Not content to simply hope that things would improve, I took a proactive approach, establishing a working group with the aim of creating a road map for public transport that addresses the short-term and long-term planning provisions for these services.

Since moving to Townsville in 2000 and witnessing the huge growth in both urban and industrial development, for a long time I have seen the need to establish such a group in Townsville. I did not want to see us slip behind in providing such an essential service in a major regional city. Every time the subject is raised publicly, the focus always goes straight to other and new modes and never deals with the here and now and the city plan in mind. I have established the public transport working group to facilitate key stakeholders working together to achieve improvements to Townsville's public transport system in line with the council's city plan imperatives, recognising key transport nodes for both local residents and visitors to Townsville.

The working group will consider opportunities and collaborate on opportunities to improve the effectiveness of public transport in Townsville. The primary objective is to achieve short-term improvements to public transport; to help achieve a public transport system that is efficient and meets customer demands and expectations, including those of tourists and visitors to the city; and supports and enhances the CBC and other key activity centres.

The working group is very mindful of the following: Townsville is Australia's northernmost major city and gateway to the tropics; Townsville has a healthy growth rate; Townsville is recognised as the second capital of Queensland; Townsville's CBD needs revitalisation; key activity centres include the CBD, James Cook University Hospital, Thuringowa Central, Aitkenvale, Deeragun and the Northern Beaches and both Magnetic and Palm Island; and private sector investment is lagging.

Some of the issues identified at our first meeting that should also be in front of mind are the perception and reality of inadequacy of public transport; poor utilisation of public transport; and lack of alignment between federal, state and local government policy frameworks. The wheels are now in motion, after our second meeting where I invited Marie-Claude from the chamber of commerce to address the group, with our first proposed action as a working group. Townsville Chamber of Commerce is taking part as it has been awarded $10,000 by this state government to undertake a desktop study of one of our major transport nodes. This will look at how to improve public transport between the CBD and the Douglas precinct. I have also been approached by the CBD nightclub strip to see if we can help transport patrons home on weekends. I wish to thank the Premier and the minister for their ongoing support with this project and all the stakeholders for getting on board and embracing the process.

After the release of the Commission of Audit final report I think it is more important than ever that this project is underway considering that we need to look differently at how we do things. The status quo cannot remain. Transport is definitely something this government is looking at. With my other local members I look forward to success.