2015-04-07 Item 2 - Attachment 1 - Pre feasibility Study of Electric Bus Routes

Executive Summary
  Objectives
  Noosa Council has a track record of innovative approaches to the provision of
  public transport and currently provides subsidised (free) public transport in
  partnership with TransLink and Sunbus during peak holiday periods in an attempt
  to alleviate congestion and parking issues, particularly in the heavily visited tourism
  hotspots around Noosa.
  Council has been following and researching the increasingly successful incidences
  of electric bus trials within Australia and across the globe, and believes that this
  technology is sufficiently mature and will offer significant economic and community
  benefits to the area. Noosa Council and the TransLink Division of Transport and
  Main Roads have therefore commissioned a joint feasibility study into electric
  buses in Noosa.
  There are a number of electric bus trials and services in operation around the world
  and they are demonstrating that following initial investment, there are significant
  savings arising through reductions in fuel consumption and maintenance whilst
  also providing economic and social benefits including:
    Reduced or zero emissions from buses

    Supporting the development of renewable energy
    Improved urban amenity and reduce noise pollution
    Increased patronage and public transport mode share

    Reduced operational costs, increase fare revenue, improve cost recovery and
    better value for money for tax and rate payers
    Reduced traffic congestion

    Increased economic development and tourism visitation in Noosa
    Improved social capital
  To this end, Council is considering the use of electric buses as a “point of
  difference” for Noosa in the tourism market and also as an innovative approach
  towards the provision of clean and environmentally friendly public transport.
  GHD has been commissioned to assess the feasibility of electric bus routes in the
  Noosa area in order to provide sufficient evidence to justify a decision to progress
  the project further. The study entailed an assessment of the available technology,
  required infrastructure, network planning and passenger utilisation needed to
  determine the future costs and operational effectiveness of such a service. A
  Strategic Outline Case (SOC) in order to assess the feasibility of a 6 month trial
  electric bus service in the Noosa area has been prepared including indicative
  whole of life costing.

  Market Research
  The market research found that there were many companies involved either
  directly or indirectly in the electric bus industry. Companies that were researched
  were found to originate from New Zealand, Asia (China), Europe (Germany,




                           GHD | Proposal for Noosa Council & TransLink Division - Planning Report