Community & Business
12 August, 2025
Mayor defends controversial levy
The much maligned Public Transport Levy, which sees Toowoomba Region residents fork out money regardless of where they live in the region, has been defended by Mayor Geoff McDonald.
Mayor McDonald said Council was aware that many residents, particularly in rural and regional townships, had provided feedback on the value of the levy, especially when they do not currently benefit from public transport services.
“We understand the frustration of residents in towns, where public transport is limited or non-existent,” he said.
“This is exactly why we introduced the levy, to advocate more effectively to the Queensland Government for improved services across the entire region.”
Mayor McDonald said the Public Transport Levy, introduced in the 2024/25 Budget, is already being used to fund strategic work designed to secure long-term improvements.
Key initiatives currently underway include:
Leveraging smart technologies and supporting the State’s 50¢ fare initiative
A major network service review to better meet the needs of regional and outer urban communities
Education and promotion of the existing public transport system
Planning for special event services and new transport incentives
Infrastructure development to support future service growth
“Council is placing particular focus on expanding services to currently under-served areas,” Mayor McDonald said.
“We’re actively considering how service models from other Queensland regions could be adapted for our regional towns.
“This is a regional effort with regional funding, and we believe that by standing together, we have the best chance of delivering fairer, more frequent, and more accessible transport across the Toowoomba Region.”
