2020-01-13 GC Agenda - Item 10 - Attachment 1 - Report on the Sustainable Tourism Stakeholder Reference Group

Also, Council can’t ethically introduce a service that has negative impacts on an existing commercial operation,
such as the current privately-owned ferry service.
Transport will remain a focus of Council, Tourism Noosa and the STSRG because it is a touch-stone matter,
particularly for residents with concerns about tourism and its impacts. More work needs to be done in this
area.
Noosa Council recognises that its transport initiatives have not kept pace with public expectations nor the
desires of many on the STSRG. The need to gather data, to run trials and to negotiate with Translink have
certainly slowed progress. Council must use ratepayer funds judiciously, and that means ground-truthing
the outcomes of transport initiatives rather than operating on assumptions. Nevertheless, Council has
apologised to the STSRG for not keeping pace with expectations in this area.
Responses:
The Noosa Council’s Transport Strategy was endorsed following significant community consultation. It is
supported by a Transport Policy.
A Transport Strategy Steering Group (now including some members of the STSRG) has also been
established to provide advice to Council on implementing the Strategy.
A wide range of actions have been undertaken including: working with Translink, most particularly on their
Network Review; working with the Dept of Transport & Main Roads; engagement of a range of expert
consultants; detailed research on parking and congestion during different times of year; and a series of
trials of transport initiatives.
An enormous amount of data and information has been accrued by Council’s transport staff.
Any effective transport solutions will require multiple actions, not a single action. Most likely this will
include proverbial “carrots and sticks” – in other words, both incentives and disincentives.
Some of the solutions that have been implemented so far include:
  Expanded free bus service during peak holiday periods
  A Noosa travel app with information and real-time parking details
  Improved way-finding signage
  Traffic controllers to ease traffic flow at key pinch-points
  Electronic signage beside feeder roads
  Engagement of behaviour change experts
  Work with local schools to encourage a walk-and-ride-to-school program
  New free loop bus service for Christmas 2019 and Easter 2020 including parking for 400 vehicles at AFL
   Grounds
  Investigation of electric bus technology
  Investigation of automated bus technology
  Support for the State’s e-vehicle superhighway
  Support for programs encouraging bicycle use
  Support for ZEN Inc’s Electric Vehicle Fairs
  Pathway and cycleway network review

Within the draft planning scheme, Noosa Council has identified land at the Shire Business Centre as a
potential transport hub – to capture vehicles travelling into Noosa via the Sunshine Motorway and to then
transition drivers and passengers to public transport before they end up in key precincts.
Noosa Council has made it clear to Translink and others that Council’s ideal is for a bus service serving the
internal network, utilising appropriately-sized electric buses, clearly identified in Noosa livery, and with a
localised depot.




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