Bus stop coming to Pimpama Junction Shopping Centre as of next Wednesday

LESS than 48 hours after we broke the news there were no bus stops along Pimpama’s busiest road, Transport Minister Mark Bailey has announced the suburb will receive a bus stop — and soon.

The Pimpama Junction Shopping Centre at Pimpama. Picture Mike Batterham

A SURFSIDE bus will service Pimpama Junction Shopping Centre as of next week following years of campaigning by residents for better public transport.

Less than 48 hours after the Bulletin reported that there were no bus stops along Pimpama’s busiest road, Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said a bus would now service Pimpama Junction Shopping Centre.

The Pimpama Junction Shopping Centre will now be serviced by a bus via Dixon Drive. Picture Mike Batterham

The Surfside Route 722 will service Dixon Drive, just off Yawalpah Road and one of the points of contention for many locals.

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“This is a significant improvement on the current arrangements for commuters,” Mr Bailey said.

“From next Wednesday, Surfside’s Route 722 will service Dixon Drive at the Pimpama Junction Shopping Centre.

Pimpama local Jaydan Rufus, 20, who has cerebral palsy and is wheelchair bound said the lack of stops was detrimental to those living with a disability who relied on public transport. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“It is not possible to construct temporary bus stops on Yawalpah Road at this stage, as they would not provide accessibility for customers due to a lack of footpaths and safe boarding points because of the construction works happening there.

“TransLink has assured me it is progressing a permanent solution for Yawalpah Road following those construction works, and will provide further details to the community when an outcome is reached.”

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Jaydan Rufus, 20, who had previously lodged a petition requesting Yawalpah Road have a hail and ride route, said he was happy with the outcome so far.

But he was left frustrated that change had taken so long.

“What pisses me off is that it’s taken almost five years for my community (to get this result),” he said.
“If somebody doesn’t get injured or killed, nothing gets done.

“Pimpama Junction should have had a bus stop before it opened.”

Pimpama Junction Shopping Centre opened in 2014.