A new Flexilink service will be trialled between Lake Macdonald and Cooroy to make it easier for residents to access local public transport.
The trial service will operate from next Tuesday 2 April providing a return service three times a day, Monday to Saturday.
Sunshine Coast Transport Strategy Portfolio Councillor Rick Baberowski said the Lake Macdonald Flexilink service trial is funded by council’s Public Transport Levy to improve access to buses between Cooroy, Nambour and Noosa.
“The Levy provides the critical seed funding to help trial new transport routes and services across the Coast, and this includes Flexilink,” he said.
“Flexilink services give communities with fewer travel options transport that’s affordable, safe and reliable so they can access public bus and train services.
“Council consulted with local residents along the route to see if a service between Lake Macdonald and Cooroy would meet passenger needs and the feedback we received was very positive.
“This trial is an on-demand service that has been scheduled to connect with Cooroy to Nambour and Cooroy to Noosa TransLink services via routes 631 and 632. It could also be used by visitors and the wider community to access attractions like the Noosa Botanic Gardens.
“We’ll monitor the number of trips being booked for the service as well as passenger numbers, over the next three months. At this stage the trial will operate until June 30.”
The service is contracted to Suncoast Cabs and will cost $2 for adults and $1 for children and concession cardholders.
Division 12 Councillor Tony Wellington encouraged residents to use the service during the trial period.
“The return service runs between Cooroy and Lake Macdonald, travelling via Emerald, Myall and Elm Streets, Lake Macdonald Drive, Forest Acres Drive and Koala Crescent,” he said.
“This service will hopefully make it easier for people in the Lake Macdonald area to access buses and main shopping centres, without having to drive their car.
“I encourage local residents to make the most of this trial so we can determine if this route and service is a viable travel option for this community in the future – people need to use it to keep it.”
Four Flexilink trial services are currently operating in the region, including Peachester to Beerwah, Conondale via Witta to Maleny, Kenilworth to Mapleton, and Boreen Point to Tewantin.
A brochure including a timetable for the Lake Macdonald to Cooroy Flexilink trial can be downloaded on council’s website.
Wheelchair accessible vehicles are available. Bookings are essential, phone 1300 511 163.
Flexilink Lake Macdonald Timetable