By KATHY SUNDSTROM FREE public transport, an A-grade clean Maroochy river, energy efficient street lighting … these are part of the dream picture for Maroochy Shire discussed at an Environment Forum yesterday.
But if Maroochy Mayor Joe Natoli gets his way, these dreams will become reality.

And the 150 environmentalists who gathered at the forum at Novotel Twin Waters will be behind him 100%.

“We need to start thinking about the future, if we don’t start doing something today, who knows about tomorrow? I know it’s a big challenge, but it begins one step at a time and we need to start taking small steps,’’ Mr Natoli said.

Griffith and Sunshine Coast University professor Ian Lowe spoke on the challenges that await future generations and he didn’t paint a pretty picture.
“If you think oil prices are high now, you ain’t seen nothing yet,’’ he warned.

“In a few years time we can expect to pay between $3 to $4 a litre for petrol, which is why we need to start making plans for tomorrow.

“With the economic base of Maroochy Shire being tourism, we need to start thinking where the tourists are coming from. People will be less inclined to travel far when oil prices increase, so we need to target the Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne markets.’’

But Prof Lowe believed the biggest challenge Maroochy Shire needed to address was public transport.

“We invest huge amounts in our roads, but we shouldn’t, we should be investing in public transport.

“A train ride to Maroochydore has been planned for 2025, but a four-lane bridge is being budgeted for today.

“Public transport gives far more people access to facilities and should be a priority.’’

And Mr Lowe believed the answer lay in free transport.

“A study was done which showed that 80 to 90% of revenue collected from tickets went to paying for means to collect and inspect tickets.

“It’s thus not that much more expensive to make public transport free and this would encourage many more people to use it.

“Investing in public transport is an investment in the future.’’

Mr Natoli couldn’t agree more and has long envisioned a free bus or tram service within Maroochydore, but his dream for the environment went beyond wheels.

“We need to develop concrete solutions for cleaning up waterways and public transport and everyone has a role to play,’’ he said.

Already Mr Natoli was full of bright ideas that involved changing light bulbs.

“I’d like to look at replacing the street lighting with energy-efficient light bulbs and will be approaching the Energy Minister (John Mickel) with this idea.

“We pay (the State Government) $1.2 million a year.

“I know that replacing the light bulbs will initially be expensive, but in the long term we will save money and be more efficient.

“We need to start thinking about the long term.

“If we want a sustainable lifestyle we need to start doing things in a different way.’’

Sunshine Coast Environmental Group spokesman Scott Alderson was once a staunch critic of Maroochy Shire, but at yesterday’s forum he was singing their praises.

“I think it’s great what they are doing.

“They’ve had a bad history, but are actually doing things to improve the situation.

“They’re taking the lead and accepting responsibility.’’

The outcomes from the forum will provide insight into the environmental challenges that confront us, assist us all in understanding what each other is doing about these challenges, and identify possible partnering opportunities, the forum said.

The forum was conducted by Maroochy Shire Council in conjunction with the Sunshine Coast University, Sunshine Coast Environment Council and Maroochy Landcare and catchments.

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3644719&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=

I wonder if that study showing 80-90% of fares goes to paying for fare collection is accurate. Maybe 20 years ago when public transport was more heavily subsidised than it is now (as far as I know).

It would be interesting if they do try free public transport to see the results and whether it is worth it. But they might have to get past Translink's unified public transport ticketing for SEQ first.

I wonder if that study showing 80-90% of fares goes to paying for fare collection is accurate. Maybe 20 years ago when public transport was more heavily subsidised than it is now (as far as I know).

That is hardly painting a full picture. If 80-90% of revenue generated by fares is paying that, then how much are people paying in council rates to prop up the systems? Those things don't run themselves for free. A better idea would be to cut fare prices (if they're serious about that) to something negligable -- like $1 or something -- and put all of that towards running the system. Just because every other PT operator works inefficiently doesn't mean they have to.

And again somebody is going for the horror story of petrol costing $3 - $4 per litre "in a few years time." It's not going to happen that quickly; anybody who knows a thing or two about how markets work (and has a handful of brain cells in their head) will know alternatives will be sought long before petrol gets anywhere near that price. In, say, 20 years time.

Why shouldn't public tranpsport be free? Its free to drive your cars on 99.9% of roads.
And yes, we know drivers pay rego, fuel levies etc etc, but providing road infrastructure for the public is a much less efficient means of moving people around than providing a bus or train that can carry ALOT of people at one go.
Get rid of your car, save some cash, and buy an ipod or read a book on the bus/train. Chill out man........
"Get lost hippy" I can hear you say already. he he.

Mind you - at the moment, its pretty hard to survive on the Sunny Coast without a car, so I can't really blame people for driving there.............oh well (sigh)

Why shouldn't public tranpsport be free? Its free to drive your cars on 99.9% of roads.
And yes, we know drivers pay rego, fuel levies etc etc, but providing road infrastructure for the public is a much less efficient means of moving people around than providing a bus or train that can carry ALOT of people at one go.

Well like I said, if all fares paid went to actually maintaining the services instead of hiring people who make sure you are actually paying your fares (by employing some kind of ticketing system to make those people redundant), it would be substantially more cost-effective for public transport systems. I don't mind council rates going towards PT systems -- it's money better spent than many other council initiatives -- but I would ultimately prefer them to spend the money wisely.

Get rid of your car, save some cash, and buy an ipod or read a book on the bus/train. Chill out man........

I've said before that more often than not I catch a ferry to uni. The iPod and books often come along with me on those rides :)

"Get lost hippy" I can hear you say already. he he.

Nah, got nothing against you. Everybody is entitled to their own opinions after all :)

this is gonna turn into another PT debate isnt it?

just for my 2c, SE Qld should construct a High speed rail from GC-BNE-SC that travels 250-300kmh. That would make travelling to the coasts fun!

this is gonna turn into another PT debate isnt it?

just for my 2c, SE Qld should construct a High speed rail from GC-BNE-SC that travels 250-300kmh. That would make travelling to the coasts fun!

Sounds like a good idea. Such a line should also be built with Standard Gauge track though to allow future links to Sydney to use the line.

this is gonna turn into another PT debate isnt it?

just for my 2c, SE Qld should construct a High speed rail from GC-BNE-SC that travels 250-300kmh. That would make travelling to the coasts fun!

Great idea! The place will need high speed links to the outlying areas soon, especially when all the big satellite devts like Mango Hill and Springfield really get going. Something like the Paris RER would be good, though not on the same scale obviously.

Isn't the RER a suburban rail network, similar to what already exists in Australiain cities?

I think rail links full stop are good enough for most areas, keep high speed rail for long-distance travel between population centres.

Isn't the RER a suburban rail network, similar to what already exists in Australiain cities?

Yep, and its a piece of shit :)

free transport has great benefiets, and I've always like the idea. The only problem I can see is the lower amount of maintanace on the system and a free service beckons vanadlism, although with our current ticketing system, it's not like any of those no-hopers pay for train tickets anyway.

Finally someone on the sunny coast is planning for the fututre, congratulations on your foresight, Joe.

Why shouldn't public tranpsport be free? Its free to drive your cars on 99.9% of roads.
And yes, we know drivers pay rego, fuel levies etc etc, but providing road infrastructure for the public is a much less efficient means of moving people around than providing a bus or train that can carry ALOT of people at one go.

Well it's free to drive you car providing you provide the car, and the fuel, and the driver. All of which you need to pay for on a bus, that uses the same roads.

To be honest, despite the obvious flaws, I do think PT should be free. The only one reservation I have is the same one I have about many train systems that have easy fair evasion. It's the element that they attract that puts off many others from using PT.

I don't think PT should be free because 'car drivers get enough subsidies' or any such other nonsense. I think it should be free, frequent, consistent (running all hours of the day), and convenient. In an ideal world, no one would think of taking their car unless they had special needs.

I used to love driving, and sometimes I still do. But all the traffic/taxi'ing of people without cars/licences, and road rage around means that driving sometimes leaves me in a far worse mood than I would like. PT in my area just isn't feasible unless travelling in one direction, at one time, if my time is worth virtually nothing, and I'm prepared to walk 3km to the bus stop. :( Can't afford to move either.

Take a look at the free Inner City Loop it's mostly occupied by homeless people looking for aircon :(

And again somebody is going for the horror story of petrol costing $3 - $4 per litre "in a few years time." It's not going to happen that quickly; anybody who knows a thing or two about how markets work (and has a handful of brain cells in their head) will know alternatives will be sought long before petrol gets anywhere near that price. In, say, 20 years time.

Petrol will be $3-4/L in the next few years, I have few doubts about that. We're about to hit a supply brick wall while demand is climbing about as strongly as ever.

Prediction:
The oil price has tripled in the last 3 years and the only thing keeping us from $1.50-$1.80 already is the significant appreciation of the AUD of late. When the US economy tanks, which it will before too long, Australia's economy will go with it. Out comes the carpet, in comes $1.50-$1.80. Inflation will kick in by then as well. Oops, there went $2. However, oil demand in other countries will remain high and could continue to grow. Within a few years, actual daily oil supply will begin to shrink. Supply won't meet demand. It'll be impossible to pull ourselves out of recession, and inflation will intensify. And there's your $3.

As for your whole alternatives will be sought line, of course they will be sought. They'll also be heavily subsidized. They aren't scalable of course, nor are they feasible without subsidy even if the oil price does go sky high. Quite simply, nobody's produced an alternative that doesn't rely on oil or other rare commodities in the supply chain to begin with. As the price of oil goes up, the price difference of the so called alternative will magnify, and will actually be further out of reach than today.

^ Yeah and $2 is not really that high anyway. The price of fuel in London is around 90p per litre (which is around A$2) and it's rising. And before everyone starts to say that London is more expensive etc., It's actually not. Housing is very expensive - but not hugely more than much of Sydney. Most other goods and services are more or less relative.

My usual measure - a beer - costs around £2.80 for a pint, which is about A$6.30. The last time I was in Melbourne I was paying more than that.

So basically with fuel prices, get used to it. Ride a bike - keeps you fit, costs very little to run - only an extra weetbix or two for breakfast ;)

Oh and yes, I think free public transport for people who don't drive (don't yet or still have their licence) should be a given, and cheap for the rest. Oh and the best way to stop fare evasion would be to make the monthly tickets around 40% cheaper than daily/weekly. Then regular travellers would buy them. (irregular travellers such as occasional day trippers, tourists, probably don't avoid paying)

thinking about free transport might as well rip up the road netowrk and stop it's funding and shove it all into a new free transportation network! (jokes)

thinking about free transport might as well rip up the road netowrk and stop it's funding and shove it all into a new free transportation network! (jokes)

It's not such a joke in the right context. London has just announced free PT for all children under 15, and cheap for students over 15. Many European cities have this.

Also, in some contexts it is necessary. Last summer on the Great Ocean Road, I noticed free shuttle buses within and around the towns. In this instance, the traffic is getting worse and worse, and there is no alternative to widen the roads or parking, so the best way is to offer free transport once you've arrived. This would allow people staying there to leave their cars at the holiday house/caravan park etc, and to leave the parking in towns for short term touring visitors.

The CBD's of most cities, transfers from railway stations to major shopping centres would all benefit from free PT schemes. In London, if you visit Ikea, there is a free shuttle bus to the nearest tube station - and the carpark is only quarter full.

This is a great idea, and schemes like these should be encouraged. The silly thing is, that such schemes actually benefit road users as well, as anything which takes a car off the road or out of a parking space, makes those who must use cars have an easier time.

“A study was done which showed that 80 to 90% of revenue collected from tickets went to paying for means to collect and inspect tickets.



Are you listening VLine - maybe if you drop the two conductors for every trip policy we could also drop the ticket price under $50!

Free transport is a great idea and the only thing holding it back is politicians who would rather spend money on themselves. Maintenance could be paid for by charging for advertising on the busses I suppose and the Govt could pay the drivers!