By Jolene Ogle
Councillor Ingrid Jackson has stepped up her campaign to convince TransLink to establish a direct bus service between Noosa shire and the new Sunshine Coast University Hospital at Birtinya.
Cr Jackson said she was deeply disappointed when TransLink refused to provide a direct bus service from the shire to the new hospital and is calling on the service to conduct a trial.
“I believe TransLink should at least instigate a six-month trial so it can objectively assess whether there would be adequate demand for such a service,” she said.
The new university hospital will be progressively opened to patients in March and April this year after which Nambour General Hospital will offer only subacute care, outpatient and rehabilitation services.
Cr Jackson said the travel times from Noosa to the new hospital in Kawana are simply unacceptable.
“At present, for hinterland residents, the Route 631 bus trip from Cooroy to Nambour hospital now takes a scheduled 42 minutes,” she said.
“By contrast, the trip from Cooroy to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital – requiring Route 631 plus two or three bus transfers – will take two to two-and-a-half hours. The journey from Noosa Junction will take nearly two hours on routes 620 and 611.
“This is an unacceptable situation. TransLink at least owes the people of this shire a decent trial of a direct route to establish whether user numbers stack up.”
Cr Jackson said she is continuing to advocate for a Noosa-friendly solution through State Government representatives and Noosa Council.
Cr Jackson said her research into alternative travel options show they are expensive and not always available with a one way trip by taxi to the new hospital to cost around $120 and $65 for Uber.
“For people over 65 registered with My Aged Care, a return weekday trip for outpatients will cost $55, but not all types of illness are covered and no subsidy is available for hospital admission or discharge,” she said.
“Meanwhile Noosa Community Support has told me their driver service is fully subscribed and that they cannot take on any more people.”
Cr Jackson said there are many members in the community – “especially the elderly, the infirm and those who don’t have much money left at the end of each week” – whose needs for access to the new hospital must be met.
“TransLink has resisted our advocacy so far but this is an issue worth persevering with and that’s exactly what I intend to do,” she said.
“I’ll continue to seek solutions for faster, cheaper and more direct public transport access to the new university hospital.”
Noosa MP Glen Elmes said he agrees a six month trial would be great and would mean Noosa residents would have to “use it or lose it” to keep the service.
But Mr Elmes said the problem is much deeper than the lack of a direct bus service due to a lack of infrastructure around the hospital.
“If TransLink and the Minister for Transport, whoever that is now, can’t run a rail system or a bus service then what hope do we have?” he said.
“Someone has to be responsible and fix this issue. Noosa needs at least a direct bus service to and from the hospital and residents need to be able to easily access the hospital.
“If TransLink and the Government won’t do it then Queensland Health needs to because this will affect their patients.
“It’s any wonder the Labor party runs third in Noosa because they gave up a long time ago doing anything for the people of Noosa.”
TransLink was contacted for comment but was unable to respond prior to going to print.
