The bus stops here!

Published on 05 August 2020

Cr Tony Williams and Member for Rockhampton Barry O'Rourke.jpg

The Rockhampton Region now has 14 more fully accessible bus stops thanks to a $215,000 project from Rockhampton Regional Council and the Queensland Government.

The works were 50 per cent funded by the Queensland Government’s Passenger Transport Accessible Infrastructure Program.

Infrastructure Portfolio spokesperson Councillor Tony Williams said he was delighted with the new and improved bus stops.

“Public transport is vital to so many people, enabling them to get to work or to see family and friends," he said.

“Previously the layout of some of these stops made boarding and disembarking busses really quite difficult if you were using a wheelchair or a pram.

“Now all of these 14 stops are fully accessible and compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act.

“In some places that meant adding concrete boarding slabs so that when the bus pulls up it is level with the kerb, and in others it meant installing tactiles – those raised yellow dots which help people who are visually impaired.

“We have also added timetable holders for the bus companies to use to make sure that people know what time their transport will be arriving.

“I’m especially pleased that these stops are located in a range of areas. From Bouldercombe to Gracemere, Mount Morgan to Allenstown, and Park Avenue to Berserker – residents right across the region will benefit.”

Cr Williams said Council was grateful for the Queensland Government’s support.

“Without the 50 per cent contribution we wouldn’t have been able to make these improvements, so we are really pleased that the State Government put up this funding to make our bus stops more accessible.”

Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke said the funding grants were an example of the Palaszczuk Government's commitment to ensuring all Queenslanders could access public transport, while also supporting jobs as the region bounces back from COVID-19.

“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to eliminating barriers for everyone to access the public transport network and these funding grants are a further example of our commitment to that,” Mr O’Rourke said.

“Funding assistance provided to 17 local governments across the state helped to upgrade almost 670 bus stops in Queensland in the last financial year, thanks to this important grants program.

“The global economy has been hit hard by COVID-19, but Queensland’s strong health response to-date means our state can kick-start the economy quickly, and get on with the job of rolling out a $23 billion pipeline of road and transport upgrades.”

The 14 stops are in the following locations:

  • Main St near Alexandra St, Park Avenue
  • Burnett Hwy near Sunray Ave, Bouldercombe
  • Burnett Hwy near Carrige Ave, Bouldercombe
  • Johnson Road near Middle Road, Gracemere  
  • Upper Dawson Road near Wakefield Street, Allenstown
  • Upper Dawson Road near Brecknell Street, Allenstown
  • Lakes Creek Road near Water St, Berserker
  • Alexandra St near Richardson Rd, Park Ave
  • Dean St near Wooster St, Berserker
  • Dean St near Talbot St, Berserker
  • James St near Glen Gordan Street, Mt Morgan
  • James St near Nicholson Street, Mt Morgan
  • James St near East St Extended, Mt Morgan
  • James St near Gordan Lane, Mt Morgan