Council would like to clarify the Page 6 article in the Bayside Bulletin on Tuesday 2 July 2013, relating to the extension of the TransLink network to the Southern Moreton Bay Islands (SMBI).
The article incorrectly states that free go cards were to offset an $85 TransLink special charge levied on islanders to subsidise extending the public transport network.
The facts: TransLink responded to a request by Mayor Karen Williams to consider offering islanders an incentive to change to go cards by making available 3750 cards at no cost. They were not to offset any charge on islanders.
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The extension of the TransLink network to the SMBI would never have happened without a contribution by the Council. Council voted to impose a special charge on the SMBI to raise the $920,000 contribution to the State Government. The Mayor promised to minimise any cost impact on islanders. This was delivered in the Budget with the $85.46 special charge offset by a similar reduction in the accelerated infrastructure component of islanders’ rates.
The article also contains misleading quotes from an islander, who claimed that Lamb and Karragarra island ratepayers had not been allocated a percentage of the 3750 free go cards.
The facts: All SMBI residents had equal chance to obtain a free go card. Lamb and Karragarra islanders were provided with free transport to the first two hand-out days on Russell and Macleay Island and all islanders were made aware of further hand-outs last week.
The free cards were restricted to island residents, to ensure as many as possible had the opportunity to benefit. It was made very clear they would be issued on a first in basis.
