Transport Levy paving the way for future transport solutions

The Transport Levy continues to secure the Sunshine Coast’s transport future, highlights for the last 12 months are featured in the 2016/17 Transport Levy Annual Report, which is now available for the community to view.

Funds from the annual Transport Levy, contributed to by all ratepayers, help council to investigate future transport options, undertake important long-term planning and trial public transport service gaps that exist in our region.

Transport Portfolio Councillor Rick Baberowski said he was pleased with the program’s achievements over the last 12 months.

“The Transport Levy Annual Report helps the community understand exactly how and where council has invested levy funds,” Cr Baberowski said.

“The annual report demonstrates we are doing some outstanding things for our community in the transport space.

“In partnership with ComLink, council will continue to fund the popular Council Link transport service for eligible residents.

“This service for residents aged 60 and over, people with a disability or mobility impairment and their accompanying carers and minors is affordable at just $2 each way.

“The service provides passengers easy transport between their home and their local shopping centre and is essential for our residents, connecting them with their communities and reducing social isolation.

“The Council Link program has shown steady growth.  In fact, in the 2016/2017 year, ComLink provided 12,019 trips, servicing 39 suburbs across the Sunshine Coast and travelling 129,000km.

“That’s allowed a lot of residents to remain connected with their community.”

Cr Baberowski said the focus of our Transport Levy is now very much on infrastructure and I think the community needs to understand why.

“We have 200,000 new residents coming here over the next 20 years and we are making a very serious commitment to light rail,” Cr Baberowski said.

“Advancing investigations to bring forward beneficial public transport outcomes on the Sunshine Coast is a key focus for the levy.

“Providing public transport and the major infrastructure it requires is a State and Federal government responsibility and we need them to step up to join council in finding solutions to cope with our growth.

“Therefore, council is progressing the strategy for the light rail project, demonstrating we have a plan and we are serious about our future.

“We will be maintaining a vigorous advocacy approach with the State with a view to securing an effective, integrated public transport commitment, something needs to be done to deliver a public transport solution that will meet the needs of the majority of our residents now and into the future.”

View the Transport Levy Annual Report 2016/17 online at council’s website.

2017/2018 Transport Levy Program highlights:

$700,000 towards upgrading bus stops across the Sunshine Coast including the installation of 24 new bus shelters, provided in compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act.

$360,000 in financial support for the continuation of the Light Rail Feasibility and Business Case development.

$3,347,418 contribution to the Transport Futures Fund in the 2017/18 financial year.

$188,000 in financial support for the continuation of the Council Link services.

$112,000 in financial support for the Flexilink Services