A frequent user of Council’s Go Noosa free holiday bus, Donelle Shaw was delighted last Tuesday to step off at Hastings Street to be greeted by Noosa Mayor, councillors, council staff and even a band when she became the one millionth passenger of the service.
“I love it. I think it’s terrific. We use it a lot, sometimes a couple of times a day,” Donelle said.
The Noosaville resident said she had used the free bus service since it began and it was always easier and less stressful that taking the car, even when traffic was at a crawl heading into Hastings Street.
“Sometimes it gets held up but you don’t have to find a car park,” she said.
“I just walk out the door and get on the bus.”
Noosa Council has been providing free bus trips to residents and visitors over the Christmas and Easter Queensland school holiday period since 2018.
Along with free travel on all five local Translink bus routes, the program has introduced the Go Noosa loop bus and a temporary Peregian Beach to Noosa Heads service.
“Noosa locals and visitors have embraced the Go Noosa Holiday program since its introduction over four years ago,” Mayor Clare Stewart said.
“It is exciting to see the program evolve. These school holidays saw the introduction of the program’s first electric bus, powered by 100 per cent renewable energy.
“It has been great seeing a large number of locals and visitors giving their car a holiday and making the switch to public transport.”
Council’s Go Noosa team boarded the 065 loop bus on Tuesday to celebrate the milestone and Cr Stewart presented Donelle with a $100 EFTPOS gift card and a limited edition Go Noosa beach towel.
Building on the demand and benefits of the free holiday buses, the Go Noosa program expanded in 2022 to include a free weekend bus trial.
“With free buses during holidays and on weekends, residents and visitors can now travel for free to work, the shops, the hinterland or the beach for more than 140 days a year,” Mayor Stewart said.
The Go Noosa program is all about achieving Council’s transport vision of an efficient, free-flowing, innovative transport system that enhances resident and visitor experiences and results in sustainable environmental outcomes.
“It’s about changing the long-term behaviour of travellers, making it second nature to get on a bus to get around,” Cr Stewart said.
“The Go Noosa program is becoming synonymous with Noosa and the Christmas and Easter holidays, as well as every weekend throughout the year.”
