2014-02-03 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                       3 FEBRUARY 2014


Response Summary                                      2010/11        2011/12        2012/13     2013/14
                                                         1009           1278           1121        1014
                                                      responses      responses      responses   responses

Respondents who were in support of the Free 95.7%                    96.5%          96.3%       96%
Holiday Buses program

Respondents who indicated that they never use         Question not   Question not   91%         Cross-
                                                      included       included                   analysis not
public transport who were in support of the Free                                                available at
Holiday Buses program                                                                           date      of
                                                                                                report
Respondents who said the Free Holiday Buses 60%                      75%            71%         64%
program had improved their awareness of public
transport on the Sunshine Coast

Respondents who would not have made their 42%                        42%            45%         38%
trip on public transport if there were no Free
Holiday Buses

Respondents who said that they would/maybe            Question not   70.4%          87.2%       83%
                                                      included
use public transport more in the future as a
result of the Free Holiday Buses program

Respondents who were either               extremely 86%              95.7%          93.3%       91%
satisfied, or satisfied with their trip


Customer feedback surveys cannot identify the actual number of passengers taking up public
transport as a result of the initiative or the effect on traffic volumes in the precinct. As detailed in
the report to the Infrastructure & Services Committee Meeting dated 28 January 2014, the data
provided by TransLink and the Operator clearly demonstrates an increase in passenger numbers
when services are offered free of charge.

In 2010, Noosa Easter Free Holiday Bus services carried 250% more passengers than regular
scheduled services over the Easter period in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Based on patronage
increases on Noosa services when free, it is realistic to assume a reduction in private vehicle
trips of a similar scale.

With the consistency of information received from customer surveys to date, Councillors may
resolve to remove the requirement for customer surveys over the Easter period, resulting in an
estimated saving of $7,000, and continue to monitor the success of the program through
passenger data only. It should be noted that the survey data on hand is Sunshine Coast wide,
and as such it is recommended that a customer feedback survey be undertaken specifically for
the Noosa area for comparative purposes moving forward.


BUDGET & FINANCIAL ASPECTS
The Acting Director Organisational Services has advised that approximately $147,000 remains
unallocated from the Public Transport Levy 6 month budget revenue of $298,000. Should Council
resolve to proceed with the Easter Free Holiday Buses initiative, additional funds of $74,500 will
be required to be included in the quarterly budget review. Once Council finalises the balance
sheet allocation with Sunshine Coast Council a reconciliation of all reserves including the
Transport Levy reserve will be undertaken.




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