There s a few other legal issues but we re still hoping on that one, that s a necessity. Noosa was hailed by the State Government in 2015 as a leading the way when it sought to run a trial with electric bus builder Optare and TransLink. The plan was to operate three 10m, 29-seater buses to replace the conventional diesel 12.5m buses on a coastal run. Problems with meeting the airconditioning guidelines eventually resulted in the plug being pulled on the pioneering service. A group of Noosa ratepayers are keen for Noosa to revisit its cancelled electric bus trial. Noosa Council communication manager Ken Furdek said residents would have the opportunity to put forward their ideas as part of an extensive community consultation program to get under way next month.
Mr Shave said Noosa residents were asked last September to prioritise a range of budget consultation options including establishing a community reference group as well as public workshops. He said the end result was 156 responses with 94 per cent listing online engagement in their top three priorities. Online participatory budgeting tools have been in place for a number of years in other countries, Mr Shave said. A number of Queensland councils have or are beginning to implement online budget engagement processes. A Noosa ratepayers leader wants tourism levy funds redirected to help the struggling tourist-based sector. Mr Shave said residents were asked to determine priorities.