2015-02-03 Infrastructure & Services Committee Agenda

INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                               3 FEBRUARY 2015


The additional service was provided because the existing Route 620 Noosa Heads-
Maroochydore bus service was not able to be part of the Free Holiday Buses Program.
Existing Council services:
•    Council Cabs and Boreen Point-Tewantin Flexilink were also free.

2.      Passenger Data

An estimated 43,146 passengers were carried over the 10-day period (passenger numbers
are recorded though manual ‘button pushing’ by the bus drivers). Refer to Table 1: Free
Services 26 Dec 2014 – 4 Jan 2015 for a breakdown of passenger numbers by route.

Table 1: Free Services 26 Dec 2014- 4 Jan 2015

Route      26       27      28      29       30       31       01 Jan   02 Jan   03 Jan     04      Total
           Dec      Dec     Dec     Dec      Dec      Dec                                   Jan
064        260      245     255     241      213      262      268      160      356        170     2,430

626        1,306    1,262   1,575   1,864    1,377    2,017    1,686    2,119    1,364      1,778   16,348

627        1,177    820     1,179   1,692    1,211    2,932    1,405    1,758    1,424      1,369   14,967

628        333      372     299     455      507      412      211      377      305        224     3,495

629        267      370     435     699      574      699      516      579      425        403     4,967

632        104      103     61      124      147      66       55       85       128        66      939

Total      3,447    3,172   3,804   5,075    4,029    6,388    4,141    5,078    4,002      4,010   43,146


Passenger data for Council Cabs and the Boreen Point- Tewantin Flexilink was consistent
with the regular passenger use.

The 2013/14 Christmas Free Holiday Buses passenger data for Routes 626, 627, 628, 629
and 630 from 26 Dec 2013 – 4 Jan 2014 was 47,681. However, in 2013/14 all buses across
the whole of the Sunshine Coast were free therefore it could be that the reason for the
reduction in patronage is due to the fact that there were more people connecting from other
services.

3.      Marketing

Marketing of the Free Holiday Buses included:

•     Provision of signage at major bus stops, 15 street banners, and variable message
      boards on major connecting roads;
•     Posters in all Council facilities, including a banner at Noosa library and Level 3 Council
      office;
•     Council communication tools including website, Facebook, eNews and messages on
      hold;
•     Liaison with external stakeholders (Tourism Noosa, Accommodation Providers,
      Shopping Centres etc.) for inclusion on websites, emails, and newsletters;
•     Specific promotion to Peregian community groups of temporary shuttle Route 064
      Peregian- Noosa Heads; and
•     Media launch with support from local newspapers.


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