#Local Government
Target:
Tweed Shire Council & Gold Coast City Council
Region:
Australia
Website:
safercommunitiesalliance.org

Since Safer Communities Alliance was first formed, the concept of a late night transport system from the Coolangatta entertainment district to Tweed suburbs has been considered a necessity and a priority.

We have heard shocking stories of the extremes that young people will go to in order to get home from Coolangatta after the last bus has ran at 11pm. Extremes such as drunk driving, hitch hiking and designated drivers carrying as many as 10 people in one car.

We have also heard from residents other than the youth, who would like to be able to have a night out in Coolangatta without the huge expense or headache of finding a way home late at night.

As Coolangatta is the closest entertainment district for most Tweed residents we believe this issue needs to be addressed.

Gold Coast City Council has announced a trial late night bus service, funded by Gold Coast ratepayers. The service is a 12 month trial and will run every Friday and Saturday evening. The bus will depart from Coolangatta every hour at 12.15am, 1.15am, 2.15am & 3.15am. The cost will be a very affordable $3.90 or $2.43 on a Go Card. The bus will travel through Tweed, Banora, Chinderah and cease at Kingscliff. There will be security accompanying all services.

We believe that the burden of funding this project should be shared by Tweed Shire Council, who have at this stage offered no assistance or interest in the project.

We also believe that for the project to be truly effective, the service should run through to Pottsville to service residents who are most isolated from the entertainment district.

This project stands to benefit not just young people who want to party, but also adults who would like to enjoy the entertainment precinct of Coolangatta. This service could also benefit young people under 18 who simply want to see a late movie and would ensure them a safe trip home. And last but not least, this project will help to move people out of Coolangatta quickly and safely, preventing, we believe, situations from developing and escalating that are common when a large number of people fuelled by alcohol are forced to linger in one place.

So please support us in supporting Tweed residents.

To the Tweed Shire and Gold Coast City Councils.

The petition of residents of the Tweed.

We bring to your attention the need for late night transport for residents of the Tweed districts, in and out of the Tweed/Coolangatta entertainment district, to ensure safe transport home and improved safety of the entertainment district itself.

The undersigned petitioners therefore ask both Councils to:

- provide funding and support to continue permanently a trial late night transport service put in place by the Gold Coast City Council which has limited funding of $70,000 and a maximum trial period of only 12 months.

- consult with Tweed residents on the transportation needs of Tweed residents, young and old, so that decisions on bus routes etc for this service are formed based on real needs.

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The Late Night Transport for the Tweed petition to Tweed Shire Council & Gold Coast City Council was written by SaferCommunitiesAlliance and is in the category Local Government at GoPetition.