A community’s petition for a bus service has been suddenly halted after Transport and Main Roads revealed work on new bus stops is underway and the route will soon begin.
Member for Caloundra Jason Hunt said that during the past two years of liaising with the Aura community, locals had expressed that one of the biggest issues was not having a bus route into Nirimba.
Earlier this year he began campaigning for the new bus route on social media and launched a petition by doorknocking and letterbox dropping in the suburb to gauge locals’ opinions.
“The petition proposes either an extension of the 606 Baringa line or, better yet, a standalone line that services Nirimba, making it easier for residents to get in and out of their community and hopefully contributing to the easing of some traffic on the roads,” Mr Hunt said.
The “hundreds” of respondents listed many reasons for needing a bus line including accessibility for seniors, students and people with a disability, along with the need to ease traffic congestion.
Most respondents also highlighted a need for better public transport services across the Sunshine Coast as a whole.
“I very much agree with our wonderful survey respondents,” Mr Hunt said.
“Our next step was to submit the petition to our Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads, along with a letter from myself.
“However we have been informed by TMR today that the bus stop works are underway … I am absolutely delighted to see the announcement of a new line which will service the suburb of Nirimba.”
TMR revealed the bus service improvements for the region would include the new bus route in Nirimba, more frequent and later-running services, and the extension of routes into growing areas.
A new 608 route will be part of the transport boost, which is expected to begin on Monday, June 5. The service will connect Caloundra and Nirimba via Baringa. Buses will operate seven days a week with a service every 60 minutes.
A further eight new bus stops are opening in Baringa and Nirimba as part of the rollout for the new route.
Mr Hunt said the new route went in hand with changes to the existing route 606 (Caloundra to Baringa) and would bring increased frequency, with a bus running every 30 minutes along Aura Boulevard and Bellvista Boulevard in Baringa and Caloundra West.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said the new bus route was part of the government making “record investments” into better transport on the Sunshine Coast.
“This package of bus improvements will boost late-night services across the region, with two routes adding extra later evening services,” he said.
“The new route 608 will travel between Caloundra and Nirimba, bringing buses into the growing area for the first time as part of continued public transport improvements we’ve been making into developing areas of the Sunshine Coast.”
The improvements were funded as part of a $27.2 million spend on bus services for high-priority growth areas in the 2022-23 Queensland budget.
Member for Nicklin Robert Skelton welcomed the new public transport improvements.
“Two routes will be extended: route 631 (Noosa to Nambour via Cooroy and Eumundi) will run to the Ginger Factory with Sunshine Coast Council funding support; while route 622 (Maroochydore to Noosa Junction via Airport and Coolum) will be extended into The Avenue, along Ridges Boulevard and Ridgeview Drive, Peregian Springs,” he said.
“This package of bus improvements will help make public transport an option for more residents and a more inviting option for existing customers seeking greater frequency or later services.”
Summary of route changes:
- 606 – Caloundra to Baringa: timetable changes to align services every 30 minutes, in tandem with new route 608
- 607 – Caloundra to University via Sunshine Coast University Hospital and Kawana: one later trip added in both directions every evening
- 608 – Caloundra to Nirimba via Baringa: new route, increasing Aura Boulevard and Bellvista Boulevard frequency to every 30 minutes (in tandem with route 606)
- 610 – Nambour to Maroochydore via Kunda Park: one later trip (departs Nambour 10.20pm weekdays, 9.20pm weekends and public holidays)
- 612 – Nambour to Maroochydore via Bli Bli: timetable change to speed up journey time
- 615 – Maroochydore to Landsborough via University: additional trips to improve frequency and train connections at Landsborough; new bus stop location at Landsborough train station; timetable change
- 620 – Maroochydore to Tewantin: first three weekday trips extended to start at Maroochydore station
- 622 – Maroochydore to Noosa Junction via Airport and Coolum: route extension to service new area south of The Avenue, along Ridges Boulevard and Ridgeview Drive at Peregian Springs, with seven new bus stops; new timetable to better reflect actual journey time
- 631 – Noosa to Nambour via Cooroy and Eumundi: route extension to include the Ginger Factory in Yandina; one new bus stop
The latest changes will complement service improvements delivered across multiple routes on the Sunshine Coast in July and November last year.
Visit the Translink website or phone 13 12 30 for public transport information or to plan a journey.
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