Who will pay to fix public transport?
12:00a.m. 8th September 2008
Property developers would contribute money to the region’s public-transport network rather than building massive car parks, under one of several plans being considered by the regional council.
As his council grapples with how to provide a people-friendly, public-transport-driven town centre for Maroochydore, mayor Bob Abbot says there may be an argument that it would be better to take financial contributions rather than require developers to build car parks.
“Public transport access has to be spot on. It’s got to do the job of getting people there without cars,’’ Mr Abbot said.
His comments came as councillors and planning staff met to talk through factors that are critical to the creation of a functional and liveable Maroochydore town centre on the wedge of land to the east of the Sunshine Motorway and through to the Maroochy River at Duporth Avenue.
Strategic planning chair Russell Green said council should aim to give developers and the community certainty within 12 months.
Reed Property Group chief Ken Reed said he anticipated having development application before council by Christmas for the critical Big Top Shopping Centre site – a mixed-use development with a strong residential flavour and open space.
The three-hectare site is part of more than 10ha of CBD property holdings over six or seven sites that represent more than $1 billion in development costs for the Reed Property Group.
Anything the council did to encourage public-transport solutions would have his company’s support.
“We want to get it right,” Mr Reed said.
As well as the heavy focus on public-transport options, Mr Abbot said the city centre had to be people friendly and provide opportunity for recreation, occupation and trade.
“We need to create good recreation space and ensure it has good accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport,” he said.
“If we get that right the rest will come on board.’’
Council strategic planner John Winsbury said a principal activity centre would require up to 145,000sq m of office space, 60,000sq m of retail and about 4000 residential dwellings.
New councillors have made it clear they are unhappy with aspects of the old Maroochy council’s plans for the area. They have listed as critical requirements: open space in the middle of town; public transport and greater connectivity between commercial, residential and retail sectors; and easier access for all transport.
There is a reluctance to embrace heavy rail within the city heart because of noise and the physical barrier it would create.
Mr Winsbury said staff would go back to basics and look at an array of design options.
Mr Green said council would study different precincts across south-east Queensland and the methodology of Brisbane’s urban renewal taskforce, which had successfully revamped several precincts.
> Plan to cut bus travel times in half
Recent Comments
No more of this glorified footpath crap please!
Wake-up Australia the only folk to pay for anything are the people, governments, developers, retailers, in fact anything and everything used by us is paid for by us.
How about they build the carparks as currently required and then when the "fantastic promised-land public transport" is installed, they can convert the car parks into more buildings.
Maybe I'm too sceptical but the likelihood is that by the new time any "new or improved transport system" is developed the buildings built today will probably require redeveopment. Well they will be 50 or more years old won't they?
I have said it before and I will say it again, if you allow some highrise off the beach then you encourage less reliance on cars taking the pressure of roads, etc. This way more bike paths etc can be used as a real means of transport. And no not a Gold Coast, 2 or 3 only to give the CBD some heart.
Have a look:
http://www.metrotransport.com.au/aboutus...
How much is the petrol rebate per litre? 8c's...
So by riding 15km's to the shops up at Maroochydore, I am saving the community MINIMUM 12c's a trip! Or...close to 0.8c a kilometre! Not to mention reduced health care costs, lowered emissions etc etc
Also, I pay all kind's of taxes, whether they be state or federal. Plus being a renter some of my rental goes towards council rates. I highly suggest you pull your head out of your backside and realise we are doing the community a favour everytime we choose to take the two wheeled option!
What about an all of Coast solution ?
Failing a monorail, the only modern acceptable outcome would be a tube style underground which is just too cost prohibitive.
The obvious above ground mono-rail option could run from Caloundra to Noosa along the center of the Nicklin and David Low ways where the majority of the population and tourism could use it. Feeder lines from the hinterland towns could be networked at a later date.
Leave the heavy rail for the CAMCOS (if it ever gets delivered) corridor.
Developers have no responsibility for transport infrastructure and it seems that anyone suggesting that would be barking up the wrong tree.
As far as providing car parking goes the current regulations should be beefed up and enforced which is more to the point.
We see articles refering to parking problems regularly and no real attempt to remediate the problem areas.
Hwe had to park down near the Noosa river mouth to get to the Noosa Jaz festival on both days this weekend then walk back down there late at night, no street lighting no security. Meanwhile there's acres of man made rainforest of which a very small percentage could alleviate the problem immediately.
The usual lack of common sense prevails as most people park there and walk to the beach or the river straight through the regrowth which serves little purpose for the local community. After all we already have preserved Noosa National Park and the North shore wilderness. Then to see footpaths converted to gardens instead of parking
(for example in Mitti street) just defies belief. Check that one out Big Bob !
The local voting public many of who are fishermen or surfers or just ordinary families, wanting to use a park or a boat ramp or surf beach are entitled to feel that they are being sold off in favour of the hoards of Brisbane weekenders who are increasingly delivering poor outcomes for our community. They provide good income to the private business but deliver little back to our community purse.
Bring back the tourism levy and paid parking and give us residents swipe passes for the parking and boat ramps. Bligh has lifted millions in water revenue... why not take some back and pour that into parking and public transport.
Bob and Councillors get outside the square for a change, after all you're regularly getting on the innovation bandwagon.
BTW. how is that most buildings can have underground car parks yet Council can't do it in partnership in the car parks beside the surf clubs ?
Maybe he drives around for twenty odd minutes burning more greenhouse gases and causing more Hastings Street congestion just looking for a park ?
Maybe he uses one of the 1 hour or two hour Hasting street parking spaces and he gets up in the middle of his chargrilled schnapper to move his car again ?
Maybe he looks longingly at all the fresh mown grass laying there empty at Council's Woods Depot just a short stroll to all those alluring restaurants ?
Or will he use the Noosa Tigers valet service ?
Probably he'll park in Pelican street and take the gas turbine city cat from Tewantin to the Sheraton wharf in just under 5 minutes ?
Maybe he'll wake up and pinch himself, still the Mayor of Noosa, he fell asleep at his desk and it was all a bad dream. ;-P
The Mayor knows that public transport will only be fully effective if it is the most attractive option, and it's appropriate for him to look into how to make it so.
*Wonders if it's been suggested already* One very quick and cheap solution - hire some of the trawler pilots that have been laid off recently, to drive ferries, maybe? Heck, the trawlers themselves could have seats installed, they're not being used anymore now that the prawn industry is dying/dead. We have the Noosa, Maroochy and Mooloolah Rivers. No billion-dollar heavy rail line required there.
Who pays everything else? The taxPAYER.
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