New late-night bus services on the Sunshine Coast will provide local and visiting partygoers with more options to travel across the region and get home safely.
Sunshine Coast Council Transport Portfolio Councillor Taylor Bunnag said additional late-night services in Maroochydore, Mooloolaba, Buderim, Sippy Downs (UniSC) and Palmview would be trialled for 12 months from Friday, July 18.
“Sunshine Coast tourists and residents alike will soon benefit from new late-night bus services with improvements to route 616 and 600,” Cr Bunnag said.
He said the changes would see an additional 10 trips on route 616 after 10pm on Friday and Saturday nights, with both routes 616 and 600 also extended to service a new late-night bus stop 180m from Ocean St and the Maroochydore Safe Night Precinct (SNP).
“The late-night service between Maroochydore and Palmview is a welcome transport improvement for residents and visitors who love soaking up the atmosphere in Ocean St.
“By bringing services closer to Ocean St and expanding coverage, we’re making it easier for everyone; from students, to shift workers and late-night revellers, to get home safely and affordably.
“If people want to keep these extra services long-term, they need to get on board the bus and there’s a strong demand for these services, during this trial.”
Safe Night Precinct President Scott Hoskins said the trial was crucial for the sustainability of the SNPs.
Mr Hoskins said the extension of these routes and the addition of extra services would help improve walk-up access to public transport between the three localities of the Sunshine Coast SNPs at Maroochydore, Mooloolaba and Caloundra.
He said the services provided safe and reliable transport options to local hospitality workers and those enjoying the Sunshine Coast nightlife.
“Everyone is going to benefit from a successful trial especially small businesses with additional inbound customers, as well as locals heading outbound to all of our other sub-SNPs in Mooloolaba and Caloundra.”
Mr Hoskins said while personal transport options operated on the Sunshine Coast, community feedback had shown that the demand far outweighed the availability of rideshare and taxi services in the area.
He said the introduction of additional late-night bus services would offset this demand and help patrons of late-night trading venues get between venues and home safely.
“It’s about getting people to their destination as much as it is about getting people home safely.
“There’s a bit of a stigma around getting on a bus, but everyone has a responsibility to be part of the transport solution and we are so pleased to see funding from Council allocated to this Translink trial.”
