Parking information displayed on video screens, a ride-share app for Hastings Street workers, more free bus services and traffic control staff are just some of the tools Noosa Council will test drive these Christmas holidays in its first multi-modal approach to peak traffic congestion.
Mayor Tony Wellington said recent traffic and parking studies have informed the trials, which are all geared toward the aims of Council’s Transport Strategy.
One of the trials features technology developed by Noosa’s 2018 GovHack Challenge team.
“Video screens along Walter Hay Drive, Cooroy-Noosa Road, Eumundi-Noosa Road, and David Low Way will use real-time parking and traffic information to direct drivers to where parking is currently available,” he said.
“To alleviate the traffic banking up as a result of people parallel parking at the start of Hastings Street, it is proposed to turn the first 8-16 bays into a temporary bicycle and scooter parking area. We are hoping to encourage more people to try two-wheeled transport to get to Hastings Street this Christmas.”
The trial has the support of Zero Emissions Noosa, the Hastings Street Association, Noosa Junction Traders Association, Tourism Noosa and Noosa Residents and Ratepayers Association, he said.
Council will also partner with Hastings Street businesses to trial a ride-share app.
“Workers in the Hastings Street precinct can use the new app to find people with which they can carpool. The app will match staff based on the times they start and finish work,” Cr Wellington said. “As an added incentive, we’ll provide a number of parking spaces specifically for ride-share drivers.”
The Mayor said Council’s Free Holiday Buses would be extended for the entire Queensland school holidays and include a hinterland service, route 632, to Cooran via Cooroy and Pomona and Translink will conducting a marketing campaign to promote the high frequency routes.
Paid parking at Noosa Heads Lions Park will also be extended this year, with 40 per cent of the income going to the Tewantin-Noosa Lions Club and the rest being used to fund other transport initiatives.
Traffic control teams will be on hand to manage vehicle and pedestrian traffic at the intersection of Noosa Drive and Hastings Street.
“The Christmas tree roundabout at Hastings Street is a major cause of congestion as pedestrians and vehicles compete with each other for priority. Having traffic controllers on site will help resolve this conflict,” Cr Wellington said.
