Service improvements and trials

While the responsibility of providing urban public transport services to the Sunshine Coast rests with the state government, council is in the unique position to be able to advocate for increased investment in the Sunshine Coast to ensure public transport is a viable travel choice for residents and visitors.

Service improvements

Council's transport levy, and partnership with TransLink, has delivered a number of bus service improvements including:

• more weekend services for routes 600, 619 and 620
• increased frequency to route 600
• improvements to routes to 600, 602, 613, 619, 620 and 622
• a new route between Maroochydore and Kawana (route 614)
• a new route between Maroochydore and Nambour (route 612).

Council also advocated and assisted TransLink with the restructuring of the Nambour services to deliver a better local service for residents and visitors.

Sunshine Coast University Hospital services

During the 2016-2017 financial year, council successfully advocated to TransLink to introduce new bus services and service enhancements before opening the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

Sunshine Coast Airport services

In 2010, a new permanent bus service link from the Sunshine Coast Airport to Maroochydore in the south and Noosa in the north commenced. Route 622 is an hourly service providing residents and visitors with direct public transport access to and from the airport.

Public transport trials

Route 631 bus service trial extension

On 5 June 2023, a trial extension to route 631 bus service (Nambour to Noosa, via Eumundi) commenced. The trial, a joint partnership between council and the Department of Transport and Main Roads, is designed to better serve the Ginger Factory, Nutworks, and the Yandina industrial estate.

An analysis of passenger numbers will be undertaken before the end of the trial to decide on the future of the route extension. The trial will run until 30 June 2025.

Hinterland Connect bus service trial

In December 2007, the Hinterland Connect trial bus service was implemented. The service was jointly funded by council's Transport Levy, and TransLink. The Hinterland Connect service delivers a vital public transport link between hinterland communities of Maleny, Montville, Flaxton, Mapleton and Nambour.

In 2016 the Hinterland Connect service (route 890) was made a permanent bus service by TransLink, and now operates Monday to Friday.

Maleny-Landsborough-Beerwah bus service trial

In 2016-2017, council's transport levy and TransLink jointly funded the Maleny-Landsborough-Beerwah bus service delivering an improved public transport service to the hinterland region. This trial service, commenced in March 2010, was reviewed by TransLink in 2016-2017. The service review led to TransLink adopting some aspects of council's trial service as part of the improved permanent service.

The new permanent service (route 891) now operates between Maleny and Landsborough 7 days a week.

Coolum to Nambour bus trial

Funded by the transport levy, the Route 623 Coolum to Nambour bus trial (PDF, 397.04 KB) was launched on 31 October 2011.

Key elements of the service include:

• operated 4 return journeys a day, 7 days a week
• reduced travel time and the need for passengers to change buses
• connected with existing scheduled public transport services for onward journeys
• an all-stop service running from Springfield Avenue, Coolum via the Sunshine Coast Airport terminal and Bli Bli onto Nambour Hospital and Nambour Rail Station to connect with train and bus services.

After a 12 month trial period, the service had not reached required passenger numbers to be considered for a permanent service, and as such, the trial service ended on 18 November 2012.

Flexilink trial services

On 4 May 2010, council introduced seven Flexilink trial services across the Sunshine Coast region.

On 30 June 2011, following a 13 month trial, the following services were discontinued due to low patronage:

• Buderim to Mountain Creek
• Kunda Park to Mons
• Cooroy to Pomona
• Mooloolah Valley to Glenview.

These 4 services carried very few passengers and did not show an increase in numbers at any time during the trial. The best of these services carried an average of 6 passengers per month. Similarly, after 5 years of operation the Kenilworth to Mapleton Flexilink service was discontinued on 1 August 2015 due to low patronage.

For information on continuing Flexilink trial services, please visit Flexilink trial services.

Public transport guide

In 2012 council produced the first Sunshine Coast public transport guide to better inform residents and visitors of their public transport options on the Sunshine Coast. Between 2012 and 2021, 6 different versions were produced, with 149,000 copies of the guide being distributed across the region. The 2021 version of the guide was produced jointly by TransLink and council, with TransLink taking over production of the public transport guide.

More information

If you would like more information, please contact council.