New northern Gold Coast bus routes which revamp ‘lousy’ service

The Gold Coast’s “lousy” services in the city’s fastest growing areas will be revamped to become among the best, according to confidential plans. FIND OUT WHERE

THE Gold Coast’s “lousy” northern bus services in the city’s fastest-growing areas will be revamped to become among the best, according to confidential plans.

In March, councillors agreed to spend $11m in the next five years to upgrade northern public transport. The council wants the state government to match the $11m.

A packed bus at Helensvale. Picture: Luke Marsden.

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The presentation to councillors had remained confidential but the details now made public on council papers show how northern-based councillors were correct in earlier describing bus services north of Helensvale as “lousy”.

The council report shows the city’s highest patronage services cater for buses every eight minutes between Broadbeach south to Tweed Heads, and 15 minutes between Helensvale and The Spit and Broadbeach to Robina train station.

Some of those buses operate from 6am to midnight.

Gold Coast City Council plans to improve bus services in the north of the city.

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By comparison, only eight routes are operating across three corridors between Helensvale north to Pimpama. Weekend services are as few as four and operate only 9am-4pm.

The northern suburbs are expected to attract most of the 350,000 residents projected to flood the city by 2041.

The new report says the revamp in the north aims to get a minimum frequency of 30-minute peaks and 60-minute off peak and weekends. The hours would extend to 6am-7pm on weekdays, and 7am-6pm on weekends.

Routes would be realigned to take in Pimpama Sports Hub, The Heights Estate, Coomera Springs, Coomera City and other shopping centres.

Mayor Tom Tate has welcomed the push from divisional councillors Mark Hammel, William Owen-Jones and Cr Donna Gates to get state funding.

Current bus services on the northern end of the Gold Coast.

Cr Hammel predicts there will be about 700 additional bus services every week to suburbs like Pimpama, Ormeau, Yatala, Jacobs Well and Coomera.

“While final timetabling is still to be worked out with the state government, this will mean buses as frequently as every 15 minutes during peak times in priority areas,” he said.

“This has been a standard level of service our neighbours further south have enjoyed for quite some time that is well overdue on the far northern Gold Coast.

Plans for new bus services in the north of the Gold Coast.

“The numbers may change slightly as we finalise our agreement with the state government, but in terms of benefits to residents, what this looks like at the moment is an increase in weekday services from 46 to 146 and weekend services from 27 to 104.”

Residents will be able to catch a bus to a heavy rail station to get to Brisbane and another late on return home, and also connect to light rail at Helensvale.

New opportunities for bus services in the north of the Gold Coast.

“It also means far northern residents – particularly the elderly and those living with a disability – will no longer have to wait two or three hours between buses just to access basic services at their local shops, schools, medical centres, parks and community centres,” Cr Hammel said.

The new routes and services are expected to start in early 2022, if the state agrees to a funding deal.