Locals waiting for a taxi home from the Ocean Street taxi rank will be safer over Christmas thanks to the State Government stepping in with interim funding for a security guard and taxi marshal.
Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson said that concerns raised by venue owners and taxi drivers about public safety had led to the move to help keep people safe at this busy taxi rank during the busy Christmas and New Year festive period.
“A private security guard and taxi marshal will monitor the taxi rank on Friday and Saturday nights from 19 December until 3rd January, as well as on New Year’s Eve,” Ms Simpson said.
“The State Government has provided this solution on a short-term basis for three weeks following the ending of an agreement by venue owners to provide security at the Ocean Street taxi rank.”
“We will need to sit down together with local stakeholders to work out a better long term solution.”
“The rapid growth in popularity of the Maroochydore entertainment precinct has meant that more people than ever before are using the Ocean Street taxi rank.”
“That’s why the State Government has also made it possible for taxis to use the Maroochydore bus station as a taxi rank between 1am and 4am early Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings and on public holidays.”
“The bus station is well lit and has CCTV camera coverage so it makes sense to use this facility to make it easier for more people to catch taxis late at night.”
“Customers are still able to catch public transport from the Maroochydore bus station. Hourly late-night buses on route 600 (Caloundra to Maroochydore via Mooloolaba) and 620 (Noosa Heads to Maroochydore via Peregian Beach) will continue to operate between 10pm and 4am on Friday and Saturday nights.”
For more details about public transport and taxis on the Sunshine Coast, visit www.translink.com.au or phone 13 12 30 anytime.
