The Peregian Beach Community Association is calling for a trial electric bus loop linking Peregian Beach, Peregian Springs, Peregian Breeze and Marcus Beach.
The coastal communities just inland of Peregian Beach have been amongst the fastest growing on the Sunshine Coast, but public transport straddling the two council areas has been slow to respond to the extra demand.
President of the Peregian Beach Community Association, Barry Cotterell, said members have endorsed a proposal that Noosa Council negotiate with TransLink, and work with the Sunshine Coast Council, for an electric bus trial to operate on a continuous loop basis linking these communities.
Mr Cotterell says there are obvious models for the service; “Brisbane City Council has had an electric loop bus trial operating since May 2023 by TransLink. This trial will be increased to four buses servicing two loops”.
The Brisbane City trial operates on a continuous loop between the Brisbane CBD and Spring Hill precincts approximately every 10 minutes in peak hours and every 20 minutes off peak.
“A similar free trial should operate linking the communities at the southern end of the Noosa Shire and the northern part of the Sunshine Coast LGA.”
Peregian Springs and Breeze is a population of nearly 12,000 and still growing, exerting pressure and traffic congestion onto the coastal strip of Peregian Beach.
Traffic congestion and transport issues have been identified in just about every survey as a significant problem in the Noosa shire that needs “transformational solutions.”
Barry Cotterell sys “despite resident’s concerns over transport issues there is little in the recently released Budget documents that indicate this pressing issue is being addressed.”
He says this was a great example of how two councils can work together with Translink to develop a solution for a rapidly developing issue.
