What would get you moving on public transport?
That’s the question Lake Macquarie City Council is asking residents and visitors, as part of its push to improve bus, train and ferry services across the city.
Lake Macquarie City mayor Kay Fraser said while public transportation was primarily the domain of the NSW Government, councils had an important role to play in advocating for better services and infrastructure.
“As a large city with a lake at its heart, getting around can be a real challenge in Lake Macquarie, especially on public transport,” she explained.
“With our proximity to Sydney and the wider Hunter region, improving public transport would deliver significant economic, environmental and social benefits, and encourage more of us to leave the car at home more often.”
According to Transport for NSW, 4.5% of all trips taken in Lake Macquarie in 2022-2023 were on public transport, while vehicle driver trips accounted for 58.3% of trips in the same period.
Data from the 2021 Census showed less than 1% of the Lake Macquarie population used public transport to travel to work, compared to the NSW average of 4%.
A survey is now open for the community to complete until 12 July at lakemac.com.au.
“We want to hear from everyone – public transport users and non-users alike,” Cr Fraser said.
“This feedback will provide a better understanding pain points in the local network, barriers to increased use, and help council prioritise its ongoing advocacy efforts.”
For more community news:
Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
