LOCAL businesses struggling to find staff believe increased public transport across Tamborine Mountain could be a solution and have begun steps to lobby the government.
Members of the Tamborine Mountain Chamber of Commerce met to discuss the increasing need for public transport on the mountain, which would provide transportation for staff needed from the Gold Coast, tourists and locals.
They would like to see the current Translink service extended to seven days a week, offering set pick up and drop off locations at central places such as Gallery Walk and Main Street.
Members proposed a hop on hop off service operating across the mountain to connect people to the central transport locations.
The Chamber of Commerce hope to utilise tour buses such as Pineapple Tours, which they said would also reduce the number of cars on the road.
Tamborine Mountain Rotary lobbied to establish the existing Translink service, which began in late 2023 and operates four times a day, Monday to Friday.
However, despite having a larger population than Beaudesert and being classed as metropolitan, Tamborine Mountain has fewer Translink services.
David Power from Rotary said the current service is set to be reviewed by Translink later in the year and he was confident the Chamber of Commerce’s proposal updating the 2020 submission to the Queensland Government for increased services would be successful.
Chamber of Commerce vice-president, Dwayne Chanter said the biggest issue for businesses he hears is trying to get staff.
However, he said a better public transport service would benefit everyone, including young people living on the mountain, allowing them to attend sporting events off the mountain or go to the movies.
Dwayne said it is not uncommon for tourists to get an Uber to the mountain and then find they have no way to get off and he has personally had to drive people back down to the coast.
“The service needs to service more than just those needing to go to the coast for medical appointments,” he said.
Member for Scenic Rim Jon Krause said he would be meeting with the Chamber of Commerce soon to discuss the outcome of their recent forum.
