Recently, a frequent (every 20 minutes) shuttle bus loop service was introduced to Mount Coot-Tha, transporting passengers to and from the Summit, Botanic Gardens, JC Slaughter Falls, the Mahogany Trail and a new carpark, running up and down the mountain. Despite a lack of tourists in the area due to COVID-19, whom the shuttle was meant for, locals embraced the service and many regularly use it, despite the service not being well-known.

I, personally, used the shuttle to travel down the mountain after a hike up the Spotted Gum Trail or Summit (JC Slaughter Falls) Track. I also often parked at the new Mount Coot-Tha Carpark (halfway up the mountain) when parking at the summit or gardens was full, and caught the shuttle to the gardens or summit.

However, due to a lack of patronage, TransLink wishes to remove this extremely useful service, providing no alternative. I am requesting for the shuttle service to be retained to benefit the local community and tourists (after COVID). Council and TransLink would advertise the service on their social media and websites to encourage people to use it, as it is not well known to most (a reason for the lack of patronage).

A highly recommend extension, proposed by Maiwar Greens MP Michael Berkman, is to extend the shuttle to Toowong for greater rail and bus connection*. New stops would be placed at the carpark heading upwards, the Toowong Depot Park 'n' Ride and the Regatta (for ferry connection). Council could also purchase two Hino Poncho minibuses (currently used on other TransLink services) to service the route.

An upgraded shuttle would provide immense benefits, including:

- Improved public transport to the Mount Coot-Tha precinct - the current 471 bus is extremely infrequent (usually running hourly) and finishes at 4:30, meaning visitors cannot travel to the lookout by bus for sunset views. Re-instating and upgrading the shuttle would improve access to the precinct and thus make public transport a more reliable alternative to driving.

- Improved safety for pedestrians and wildlife - An upgraded shuttle would result in less cars on the notoriously dangerous stretch of road between the Botanic Gardens and the Summit, improving safety for cyclists and crossing wildlife.

- Less parking woes in the Mount Coot-Tha Precinct - during summer weekends, parking at popular destinations, including the Summit, JC Slaughter Falls and the Botanic Gardens, is extremely limited. The shuttle would allow motorists to park at the new Mount Coot-Tha Car Park or the Toowong Depot Park 'n' Ride, catching the shuttle to destinations around the mountain.

A map of the new shuttle route can be viewed here.

* presumably adding another bus to the route for 15-minute frequency, as one bus on this extended route would mean 30-minute frequency