After a successful 12 month trial, free weekend buses will continue to ferry passengers around the region.
The trial began in February last year and was due to end this month, but Noosa Shire Council has teamed up with Translink once again, to keep the free weekend service running.
Mayor Clare Stewart says the trial will continue for another year, until 11 February 2024, after proving to be a huge success.
“Last year, more than 142,000 passengers travelled across the shire for free on the weekend bus services included in the trial,” Ms Stewart says.
“This is great news as the aim of this trial was to change travellers’ behaviour by getting more people out of their cars and onto the buses, which is exactly what’s happening.
“The benefits of the free weekend bus services extend beyond transportation to improving social and environmental outcomes for our community.”
“We are proud to be the first Council in the state to offer our residents and visitors free weekend bus travel on all services that stay within the shire,” Mayor Stewart says.
The trial includes existing Translink services on routes 626, 627, 628, 629 and 632 covering Tewantin, Sunshine Beach, Sunrise Beach, Noosa Heads, Parklands, Noosa Junction, Noosaville, Cooran, Cooroy and Pomona.
Services on routes 620, 622, 630 and 631 travel outside Noosa Shire and are not included in this trial.