Revealed: Plan to fix Toowoomba region's 'non-existent' bus network

Toowoomba Regional Council has revealed how its controversial $43-per-home transport levy will be spent, as residents in towns with no bus services demand better connections.

A TransLink Bus Queensland bus is driven on a Toowoomba CBD street, Saturday, April 1, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Toowoomba Regional Council has revealed the current initiatives being funded through its controversial public transport levy, with the mayor hoping to correct the “non-existent” services in the region’s small towns.

The council has revealed the list of projects currently being undertaken by staff in the 2025-26, which includes a major service review of the entire network, infrastructure development to support future growth and promotion of the current services available — including the government’s 50c fare.

Mayor Geoff McDonald said he wanted residents in towns like Oakey, Pittsworth and Crows Nest, which are also pay the $43 levy in their rates, to soon have bus connections.

“We understand the frustration of residents in towns, where public transport is limited or non-existent,” he said.

“This is exactly why we introduced the levy, to advocate more effectively to the Queensland government for improved services across the entire region.”

Council is placing particular focus on expanding services to currently under-served areas.

“We’re actively considering how service models from other Queensland regions could be adapted for our regional towns,” Mr McDonald said.

Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The council will have amassed $6m from the levy by the end of this financial year, after extending it in the new budget that included at 15 per cent net rate rise.

It comes as residents expressed some support for using the levy to fund the installation of active transport infrastructure, particularly bike racks.

Two-thirds of The Chronicle readers, both online and social media, backed the Toowoomba Region Bicycle User Group’s suggestion to allow businesses to apply for small council grants to pay for the installation of bike racks, with the funding coming out of the new public transport levy.

Many residents backed the idea, arguing that public spending in Toowoomba had favoured car travel for too long.

However, others believed the levy should be dedicated solely for public transport rather than private vehicles of any kind.

Here’s what residents had to say:

Need for public, active transport

Steve Gordon

The public transport fee should probably be used to provide public transport everyone can use to parts of the region that don’t have adequate transport.

Shaz Casson

Many places have lost bus services and can’t get to and from outta town. so fix that first before adding to the mess.

Hugh Wilson

The humble bicycle and indeed scooters are regarded as part of the transport mix by Council. The vast bulk of the money should be spent on buses, and bus stops, but also bike parking which fits the exercise.

Andrew Reeson

I’ve always thought it was silly for the council to have a public transport levy when the region really isn’t suitable for public transport. If they’d called it something like ‘congestion reduction levy’ they could fund active transport projects that have a much higher return on investment than a few more buses.

Ao Fry

Under 1% of all road funding goes to bike infrastructure. Considering how much bikes, scooters etc are ridden, it’s pretty fair to want more.

Debate around mobility issues

Berty

The point is not everyone wants to or can ride a bike. Cycle parking should be down the side or out back and actual parking should still be out front for people with mobility issues.

Greg Clitheroe

Outside parking is useless because it is an invitation to have bikes stolen. Cycling will only catch on when bikes can be securely parked.

Gareth Lock

The council supporting dumped shopping trolleys are an issue for mobility. Bike parking would not displace disabled parking spots at all and nobody suggests that.

Funding and prioritisation questioned

Cathy Murphy

Maybe council should have looked at this before spending millions and millions on the bike track from Highfields to Toowoomba. I know which would be of more benefit.

Sherryl Lendrum

This levy should never have been introduced. Cancel it and credit the ratepayers’ accounts with the amount.

David Jones

Absolutely not. They pay zero rego. They are a bloody menace on the roads.

Chris Halliday

The real MENACE on the roads are unregistered motor vehicles which by law must pay rego.

Carmen Traise

Public transport levy for the outstanding public transport system that does not exist in Toowoomba