Toowoomba council endorses six public transport initiatives for region after renewing levy in 2025-26 budget

The potential public transport outcomes from Toowoomba’s most controversial tax have been revealed, after budget documents revealed the revenue from the levy will grow to more than $6m.

Special event day bus services, new “flexi” routes to smaller towns and contactless payment systems could be part of a raft of improvements to the Toowoomba region’s public transport system in the coming few years.

The Toowoomba council this week endorsed its original committee decision to support six initiatives to start revamping the network and boosting passenger numbers, in a motion that will also see the TRC hire a full-time public transport co-ordinator.

It comes after the councillors on Wednesday voted through a tough new budget to keep and raise the cost of the controversial public transport levy.

Numerous reforms to public transport could be coming to Toowoomba. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The tax, which replaced two other levies of an equivalent amount in 2024, raised $3m in the last financial year at a cost of about $38 per household and budget documents say that will now increase to $43 for the next 12 months.

Toowoomba has some of the lowest rates of public transport use in southeast Queensland, with the 2021 census revealing just 0.5 per cent of locals used buses to get to and from work.

The renewal of the levy means the council will have more than $6m by the end of this financial year in reserve for public transport investment, which the state government has made clear would be a requirement to secure any funding commitments around improving the network.

“Potentially people would hear that and they think that (the government) should be paying for it wholly and solely (but) the importance of having a 50/50 share is that we have equal input on behalf of our community and also (public transport operator) TransLink,” Mayor Geoff McDonald said during the committee meetings on June 10.

“So we’re not governed by TransLink in regard to what outcomes it may be, it’s a 50/50 share.”

Infrastructure general manager Mike Brady’s report revealed meetings between the TRC, TransLink and the Department of Transport generated more than 25 ideas, of which six were considered “key initiatives” to be moved on as soon as possible.

These initiatives included the continued rollout of contactless payment methods on all buses, further education, incentives and promotion of public transport, creating services on special event days like the Carnival of Flowers and improvements to infrastructure like the transport hub at the upcoming Highfields town centre and park and ride opportunities at Oakey train station.

A key item would be a complete review of the Toowoomba network based on the council’s five-year service plan, which identifies 15 opportunities to improve current services and overall coverage.

“Consideration could also be given in this review to developing alternative service models for areas not serviced by the current urban bus network,” Mr Brady’s report said.

“That is, existing Flexi Link models for the Sunshine Coast, Noosa and Mount Tamborine could potentially be adapted to provide services to the more populous and proximate regional centres such Pittsworth, Kingsthorpe, Cambooya, Wyreema, Gowrie Junction, Cotswold Hills and Oakey.”

The reuse of rail corridors for future public transport, which has been a long-held dream of many city train enthusiasts, was among the original list of 27 ideas and was considered a “high priority” but also has a long-term delivery framework.

The report also recommended the council use $200,000 from the levy to eventually hire a full-time position around public transport.

‘Concerned’: Council questions omission of e-scooter reforms

Councillor Tim McMahon speaking to media after Toowoomba Regional Council hands down 2025-2026 budget, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Councillor Tim McMahon questioned why the advancement of e-mobility devices like scooters wasn’t part of the six initiatives, given its low cost requirements and short-term delivery time frames.

“E-mobility would to me be one of the lowest-hanging fruits, with a high priority (placed), yet despite there being an open active motion on the books that we implement e-mobility (devices) including e- scooters I can’t see that reflected in the six initiatives of the report agenda,” he said.

“The fact that it’s again removed from the key initiatives is to me some cause for concern — I can’t see it modelled in the key initiatives yet I believe it’s an issue we should be looking at as a region.”

Mr Brady said such an initiative was a broader public transport issue but was not directly relevant to TransLink’s roles regarding the bus network.

Councillor Carol Taylor pointed out there were still potential reforms coming around e-scooters in Queensland, with the RACQ recently recommending they be equipped with seats and riders be required to wear full-facial helmets.

Originally published as Toowoomba council endorses six public transport initiatives for region after renewing levy in 2025-26 budget