Brisbane wants us to fund bus

One of Westside Bus Company’s vehicles in Ipswich. Authorities are divided over whether money should go to improve Brisbane’s buses or stay with local councils.

BRISBANE Lord Mayor Campbell Newman wants Brisbane’s neighbours to kick in money to prop up its inadequate bus system.

Cr Newman said it was “a disgrace” that Brisbane ratepayers paid $384 per rateable property to fund its bus service.

“Brisbane is in a ridiculous situation where ratepayers paid $160 million last year for a bus network that was being used by people from towns and cities that do not pay anything,” Cr Newman said.

He said Gold Coast ratepayers paid $79 per rateable property for its bus fleet, while Moreton and Ipswich councils paid nothing.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan agreed with council’s putting money into bus services, but only to improve their local services.

“In Ipswich the Council makes no contribution to public transport and it is time for the big councils surrounding Brisbane to start making a contribution to their own the way Brisbane does to theirs,” a spokeswoman said.

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale said Ipswich ratepayers should only support its bus service if that meant it was improved.

“Ipswich people will contribute when public transport is part of a regional process,” Cr Pisasale said.

“I want to see a plan of how bus services in Ipswich are going to be better. People don’t mind paying as long as they get a better service.”

He said it was time for bus services in south-east Queensland to transcend council boundaries and provide a regional bus network.

“At the moment the buses are stopping at the boundaries. That’s not good for growth and that’s not good for sharing the load in south-east Queensland,” he said.

“What we have is not a public transport system. A public transport system would see a Brisbane bus coming to Ipswich where Ipswich people can catch it and where people from Karalee or Springfield can catch a bus.”

Robert Dow from Rail Back on Track said councils should “make a proportionate contribution to TransLink”.

“But if local councils are asked to put money into TransLink, we think that money should go into improving services in that council area,” Mr Dow said.

“You can’t expect for other councils to put money into the Brisbane Council area; that would be extraordinary.”

“We think there should be one authority for south-east Queensland. TransLink doesn’t seem to be doing that.”