The strong case for a weekend public bus service from Tamborine Mountain to Helensvale and Beenleigh train stations was laid out in a submission handed to the Minister for Transport Brent Mickelberg.
The 69-page submission called for the implementation of stage two of the Translink Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) service, which would extend the existing TransitCare weekday service to weekends and public holidays.
Tamborine Mountain Rotary members, Zoe Ross and Neil Smith as well as other members of the Working Group for Public Transport on Tamborine Mountain have spent months putting together the arguments, evidence and political support as well as powerful stories from 38 community members into the submission which was also sent to Premier David Crisafulli.
In a letter to the Minister, Mr Smith said the route is proven, the operator is in place and the community is engaged.
“We are not asking Translink to begin again,” he stated. “We are asking it to finish what we started together.”
The Working Group argued since their first submission in September 2020 which secured the permanent weekday service, the population has jumped from 7,429 residents to 8,155.
It said the median age of the population was 50 years old, geographically isolated and restricted from accessing essential services, employment or social activities on weekends and public holidays.
In the submission the group also said Beaudesert, with a nearly identical population of 8,143 people, received 14 daily Translink services, seven days a week and Maleny, with half the population has weekend bus services.
The weekend service has had broad political support from the State Member for Scenic Rim Jon Krause, Scenic Rim Regional Council Mayor Tom Sharp and Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate as well as Councillors Amanda Hay and Kerri Cryer.
“They don’t have to look at new routes or people to do the work; it’s all there and all they have to do is add two more days,” Mr Smith said.
The Rotary group is now waiting for a date to meet with Translink.
Once the weekend service is running the group will begin the push for stage three, a service connecting the three plateau suburbs of the mountain.
