Toowoomba Regional Council will raise about $3 million each year through new public transport levy

Toowoomba Regional Council has this week defended the inclusion of a controversial public transport levy in rates notices, despite there still being no concrete plans for the $3 million it will raise.

Ratepayers have started paying for a public transport levy eventually worth $3m, for which the Toowoomba Regional Council admits it still doesn’t have a concrete plan.

The council this week took steps to defend and explain its inclusion of a levy to go towards future public transport investment for the region, worth on average about $40 for most households, following a surge in angry complaints from residents about the charge on their August rates notice.

According to the council, the money will allow council to “advocate future partnerships” with the state government in a bid to improve public transport access.

The council has yet to outline would projects or initiatives the eventual $3m fund could be used for, but it is understood councillors will be briefed later this year on options.

Since rates notices were issued at the start of the month, ratepayers have mistakenly connected the levy to the state government’s unrelated 50c public transport fares.

Multiple community groups, many of which discuss the affairs of the region’s smaller towns, also took to social media to voice their issues with the levy.

The backlash prompted the council to issue a series of FAQs to address the new tax, which argued ratepayers were not paying more than they previously did.

“The Public Transport Levy comes at no net increase to ratepayers as it replaces the previous ‘Park and Open Space’ and ‘Biosecurity and Bushland Conversation’ levies, both of which have funds set aside to be used for the purposes of their previous collection,” the FAQ said.

“Councillor deliberations for the introduction of a levy included ensuring that Toowoomba regional townships benefited through better public transport connectivity.

“The Toowoomba region covers 13,000 square kilometres and for townships to be connected through a co-ordinated public transport network is something we should aspire to.

“Without a financial commitment to making a start, we can’t expect anything to change.”

While he didn’t respond to request for comment in time for publication, Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald said he was excited by the opportunities when the levy was revealed back in June.

“We’d love to live in a place where public transport is accessible, where it’s easy to access, where it gets you to and from your place of work or school, (but) we’re behind the eight-ball,” he said.

“The state government is aware of this and they said this is fantastic news, they will now look closely and more favourably on our region because we’re putting skin in the game.”

There was a mixed reaction to the levy at Grand Central bus stop on Friday, with most regular public transport users saying that we simply need more buses.

Disability pensioner Karen Lakin relies on buses and taxis to get around and welcomed any move to bring more public transport services to Toowoomba.

“We need the buses to come more frequently,” she said.

“As it is now, if you miss one you have to wait an hour for the next one.

“If you have a doctor’s appointment at midday you need to catch the 10.30am bus and not the 11.30am because it might not turn up.”

Disability pensioner Karen Lakin relies on buses and taxis to get around and welcomed any move to bring more public transport services to Toowoomba.

When asked how the Toowoomba Regional Council could spend the $3 million it will raise through the levy, Ms Lakin said would like to see some relief around taxi fares.

“I know taxis are a private enterprise, but I am a disability pensioner so when I do my shopping, it used to cost me about $9 to get home from Clifford Gardens, but now it cost me $15.

“I know that does not sound like much, but it adds up.”

Damian Bannon has been catching the bus for years as he doesn’t have a licence or own a car.

“We just need more buses,” he said.

Lifetime bus user Damian Bannon said Toowoomba needed more frequent services.

“If you are going out to the university then there are heaps of buses, but to go from Grand Central to Clifford Gardens there is only one each hour.”

Retiree Tim Blades questioned the lack of detail in the council’s announcement, but broadly supported investment in public transport.

“I happen to enjoy catching the bus, I find it exceedingly convenient because I don’t have to park and I don’t have to worry about driving,” he said.

“It is a 15-minute run on the bus to my stop then a seven minute walk to my house.

“I was going to write to the mayor about putting more seats at the Grand Central bus stop, but someone beat me to it.

“I don’t have any complaints to tell you the truth, and I don’t want to see it changed.

“It would be good if more people used it though.”