Article: Boonah needs a bus service

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times click here!

Boonah needs a bus service

Boonah needs a bus service

Geoff Egan | 1st December 2011

THE lack of public transport between Ipswich and Boonah is forcing Boonah students to leave home, according to one of the town's residents.

Richard Hope has been calling for buses to run to and from Boonah ever since the Road Runner closed eight years ago.

While public transport options are available into other regional centres such as Gatton, Laidley and Beaudesert, Mr Hopes said residents of Boonah and surrounding areas were forced to drive into Ipswich for work or medical appointments.

"I'm over 70 and I don't like to drive anymore," he said.

"Kids can't get jobs in Ipswich because they can't get into town.

"If there was an early morning bus and one in the afternoon they could catch they'd be happy.

"That's why they have to leave the farm."

Mr Hope believed a route from Boonah through Kalbar to Yamanto would allow for residents of the rural towns to easily access employment and medical facilities without having to rely on a car or being forced to move into Ipswich.

He said he was forced to drive into Ipswich for medical treatment despite discomfort, and would have preferred to make his way to town on a bus.

"I'm getting to the old and grumpy stage where I don't want to drive anymore," he said.

"I just feel for other old people and the kids that can't drive."

The western portion of the Scenic Rim was relatively ignored by the State Government's recent Connecting SEQ 2031 report.

Public transport options in the Scenic Rim, Lockyer Valley and Somerset regions were virtually non-existent in the report that declared the regions were difficult to provide public transport for.

"Principles for the provision of public transport services in these communities are identified, which will be applied on a case-by-case basis," the report read.

"Flexible public transport services will be required to cater for the low volumes of passengers and the varying needs of residents in rural communities."

The Scenic Rim's only mention in the report was a promised upgrade to the Mt Lindsay Hwy that runs through Beaudesert.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads did not reply to The Queensland Times' questions yesterday.

[Set in train]

What are the local political 'stars' doing about this? Brent & McLindon?