Hinterland residents are voicing their concerns about a lack of direct public transport access to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH).
While Landsborough may be the public transport hub of the Hinterland, residents are still required to travel out to the Coast to pick up a transfer service to the Hospital, which depending on the time of day can have a return journey take up to half a day in travel, connection and wait times.
This can be particularly frustrating in the knowledge that a direct route from Landsborough train station to SCUH can be achieved in less than 25 minutes.
Landsborough resident Gay Turner said like many retirees in the Hinterland, she and her elderly husband no longer felt comfortable driving, and she appreciated that the cost of fuel and car maintenance could also be prohibitive, so they would rely on public transport.
Gay said because of the gaps in off peak services to Caloundra from Landsborough a round trip could take up to five or six hours, and incredibly she found it much easier to use public transport to access the Princess Alexandra and Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospitals than the local Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
“My husband spent five weeks seriously ill in SCUH late last year and as I no longer drive due to partial blindness I had to have relatives come up from Brisbane on some days, use neighbours on other days and have his daughter who lives locally drive me on some occasions. I never missed one day visiting but it took a lot of organising. It would have been so much easier and less stressful if there had been a direct bus service from Landsborough to the hospital,” said Gay.
Judy Jurek, President of the Glasshouse Country Senior Citizens Club said no senior wanted the prospect of a trip by public transport to be this challenging.
She said being based in Beerwah, the thought of having to catch a train, two buses and additional walking just to get to SCUH was just too overwhelming.
“I would not even attempt it! Many seniors I know have lost their confidence to drive and don’t like using computers or the online journey planners to try and navigate the connections involved with getting to SCUH,” said Judy.
Deputy Mayor, Sunshine Coast Council Transport Portfolio and Division 1 Councillor Rick Baberowski said: “The Sunshine Coast Council has published several integrated transport strategy reports and two stages of the current Mass Transit business case as part of our commitment to help plan and push as strongly as possible a fundamentally improved public transport network for our region.”
“In terms of bus services from Glasshouse Country townships (particularly via the Landsborough bus station) to Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH), I have regularly and recently advocated to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads to review the State’s Translink bus services to provide a more direct and user-friendly route.
“If we are to expect any significant shift from private cars to public transport, it’s imperative that the State Government responds to our region’s need for a significantly better service that meets the needs of the local community.
“I will continue to advocate on behalf of the region at every opportunity I get.”
Member for Glass House, Andrew Powell MP, said public transport connections from the Sunshine Coast Hinterland to important destinations, no more so than the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, were appalling, and in general, east-west connections were almost non-existent.
“That is why we’ve been calling for the heavy rail connection from Beerwah to Caloundra to Kawana and on to Maroochydore. This route includes a station adjacent to the hospital. In the meantime, it’s simple – we need a direct bus route and one that operates at a frequency that makes it attractive to Hinterland residents,” said Mr Powell.
Member for Caloundra Jason Hunt MP, said he was a big advocate for public transport as it took traffic off the roads and was environmentally responsible.
“For many people it’s also their only means of transport. Recently we’ve added electric buses to our local fleet and added extra routes to the Sunshine Coast. I’m looking forward to meeting with TransLink soon to discuss bus routes right across the electorate,” said Mr Hunt.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads’ Translink spokesperson said improvements had been implemented to bus services across the Sunshine Coast region to support the public opening of the SCUH in 2017.
The Translink spokesperson said they operated a large, integrated public transport network and it was not always possible to connect all locations to each other without transfers.
“Translink regularly monitors the public transport network and liaises with its service delivery partners to ensure services are meeting the needs of the community,” they said.
“Connections to SCUH are available at either Caloundra or Maroochydore. Depending on the time of day, the total travel time between Landsborough station and the Sunshine Coast University Hospital can be about one hour to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital or Landsborough station.”
