2018-02-06 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                               6 FEBRUARY 2018



4                        CHRISTMAS 2017-18 FREE HOLIDAY BUSES SUMMARY
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                           Project Officer, Joanna Ferris
                                 Infrastructure Services Department

Index                            ECM \ Project \ Pub-Trans: PT-FHB; NHLPC
                                 ECM \ Subject \ 45.15 Traffic and Transport

Attachments                      Nil



EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The 2017/18 Christmas Free Holiday Buses were conducted between 26 December 2017 and 5
January 2018 at a total cost of $65,664 (excl GST).

There were an estimated 45,725 passengers carried over the 11 day period. The estimated cost
per passenger was $1.44.

The services included six bus services (5 existing TransLink services and a temporary shuttle
between Peregian Beach and Noosa Heads via Noosaville), Council Cabs and the Boreen Point-
Tewantin Flexilink service.

The Noosa Heads Lions Park was utilised as a paid car park for 13 days (26 December – 7
January 2018). 3,500 vehicles utilised the car park, which generated $70,000 with $25,455 of the
parking revenue going to the Tewantin-Noosa Heads Lions Club.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Project Officer to the Services & Organisation Committee
Meeting dated 6 February 2018 providing a summary of the 2017/18 Christmas Free Holiday
Buses program and agree to revert temporary shuttle 064 to the previous route from Peregian
Beach to Noosa Heads for the 2018 Easter Free Holiday Buses program.


REPORT
The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the 2017/18 Christmas Free Holiday
Buses program. Points of interest include:
   There has been an increase in the average daily number of passengers carried compared
     to the last two years;
   The increase in the cost of paid parking at the Noosa Heads Lions Park may have been a
     factor in the decrease in cars using the facility and hence entering the busy Hastings Street
     precinct;
   The Free Holiday Buses survey revealed a significant increase in the number of
     respondents using the free bus services to get to work than in previous years.
   There was a considerable drop in patronage on the temporary shuttle route 064 from
     Noosa Heads to Peregian Beach which has been attributed to the extension of the route
     during the 2017/18 Christmas period to include a loop along Noosa Parade and Weyba
     Road.




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