Terminal inertia
THE new bus station at Noosa Junction is a major public asset with its recognised design and functionality operating at all systems go.
Built with $5 million from the State Government, $3 million from the Federal Government and $2 million from council, the project would help increase public transport use in and around the Noosa region, said council's infrastructure services head Andrew Ryan.
"The new bus station at Noosa Junction is a key component of Sunshine Coast Regional Council's transport strategy," Mr Ryan said. "The opening of the new station was the catalyst for improvement to nine local bus services in the region resulting in improved passenger services."
But just how is the bus station doing as a commercial feeder to a retail hub that needs all the customer traffic it can get?
Sunshine Coast Council's Noosa Junction Town Centre officer John Waterhouse said the jury was still out since the much-anticipated facility opened in August last year.
"It's hard to know," Mr Waterhouse said last week.
People like Greyhound chief operating officer Tony Hopkins hailed the new facility last year as "fantastic news for transport providers and tourism operators in the region".
"The transit centre will bring new life to Noosa Junction and reduce traffic congestion in busy Hastings St (where the former low-key transit centre was)," Mr Hopkins said.
But Mr Waterhouse said, judging from his regular weekly walks through the junction, foot traffic had not picked up much.
"I think it's building slowly, it won't happen in a rush," he said.
Mr Waterhouse believes the impact on business at Noosa Junction was a work in progress.
