In a Queensland first, Noosa Council has given the green light for permanent free weekend bus travel from early next year.
Pending an agreement with Translink, the 18-month trial will begin January 24 – in an extension of the highly successful Go Noosa Holiday program.
Mayor Clare Stewart said the community benefits would be enormous.
“This will encourage more people to use public transport and provide a huge boost to the tourism and business sector across the shire,” she said.
“The proposal for free weekend buses has been brought forward as a COVID response initiative.
“Along with the existing Christmas and Easter Holiday buses this creates about 150 days a year of free transport to the public,” she said.
Noosa Council believes it is the first local government in Queensland to implement a permanent free weekend bus service.
The estimated $285,000 cost for the 18-month trial will be covered by the existing Sustainable Transport Levy.
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“This initiative is a bold move by council and has the support of business groups,” the Mayor said.
“Hopefully the service will incentivise more and more people to forget the car and use the free buses.”
Mayor Stewart hopes the free services will also encourage people to visit the Hinterland villages to check out many of the great attractions and experiences in Cooroy, Pomona and Cooran.
The existing Translink services to be offered free are:
- 626 – Tewantin to Sunrise Beach via Noosa Heads
- 627 – Tewantin to Sunshine Beach via Noosa Heads
- 628 – Parklands to Noosa Junction via Noosa Civic
- 629 – Tewantin to Noosa Junction via Noosa Civic
- 632 – Noosa to Cooran via Cooroy and Pomona
“A permanent weekend service will also encourage workers in the busy precincts such as Hastings Street to park the car and utilise free transport,” she said.
Council has a strong relationship with Translink and if the proposal is agreed, this 18-month trial would allow both parties to monitor usage and compile data to determine whether it becomes a permanent transport initiative.
