New 50 cent airport bus could cost disheartened Townsville business
Will Strijdom is disappointed a public bus is launching on his route. (ABC News: Chloe Chomicki)
In short:
The Queensland government will launch a 50 cent public bus between the Townsville Airport and CBD locations this month.
A shuttle service that has filled the transport gap for a decade is unsure about how the change will affect it.
What's next?
Kinetic's route 222 service will launch on June 26, servicing the airport, bus hub, The Strand, Breakwater ferry terminal and Palmer Street.
Will Strijdom has been driving busy airport shuttles through Townsville's city heart for a decade.
His days consist of spruiking north Queensland's key attractions to the region's newest arrivals.
"Magnetic Island is our number one holiday destination, with koalas, and we're expecting the whales any day now," he tells passengers on Monday morning.
Will Strijdom has been running a shuttle service for 10 years. (ABC News: Chloe Chomicki)
With less than a month's notice, the owner-operator is having to brace for change.
Mr Strijdom is unsure how a newly funded 50 cent fare airport bus travelling the same route will affect his business offering $12 fares.
The airport bus is an expansion of Townsville's existing public transport network, which already offers 50 cent fares.
"We don't need to lose a lot of customers to lose our profitability," he said.
"There will still be business for us but not enough to be financially viable."
The public bus announced by the Queensland government on Monday comes after months of consultation by LNP Member for Townsville Adam Baillie.
"This will add to our overall connectivity and our public transport offering in Townsville," the MP said.
Mr Baillie said he conducted surveys for six months and 98 per cent of respondents supported the proposed new bus service.
But the MP and his electorate office have told Mr Strijdom and the ABC they can not provide a number of how many people they surveyed.
Will Strijdom owns and operates a Townsville shuttle service. (ABC News: Chloe Chomicki)
"We have asked how many people, if it is 1,000, if it is only 10, so we can determine the impact on our business," Mr Strijdom said.
The member for Townsville said there was enough demand to support the new bus alongside taxis, rideshare, and "bespoke" services like Mr Strijdom's shuttle.
"This bus service is very different, it is like any other public transport service with defined stops, and it will operate on a regular basis," Mr Bailie said.
The MP said the bus would not visit specific hotels and accommodation, as Mr Strijdom's shuttle does.
Townsville Airport and advocacy group Townsville Enterprise both lobbied the Queensland government for the bus service from the airport to the CBD.
Kinetic provides 50 cent public bus fares in Townsville. (ABC News: Chloe Chomicki)
The groups said the public transport service would cater to Townsville's growing number of tourists.
Airport data released in May showed Townsville's terminal catered to 6,000 travellers on peak days.
Mr Strijdom said he was sceptical, but would see out the changes.
"I'm actually not sure if Townsville is ready for a public bus service from the airport," he said.
"Buses seem to be empty, people don't seem to be using public transport, I don't think we are at the big city stage yet.
"We will lose business if that 98 per cent materialises."
The route for new Townsville Kinetic service 222. (Supplied: Adam Baillie)
The new route, 222, will launch on June 26, operated by Kinetic.
The hourly service will visit the airport, bus hub, The Strand, Breakwater ferry terminal and Palmer Street.
It will operate from 4:00am to 11:00pm seven days a week excluding Christmas Day and Good Friday.