A $35 million funding injection will speed up the Queensland State Government’s program to replace older school buses in regional
A $35 million funding injection will speed up the Queensland State Government’s program to replace older school buses in regional centres with newer, safer models.
The extra funding brings to $48 million the amount available for purchasing replacement school buses over the next four years.
Buses operating in steep and hazardous routes will be fitted with seat belts.
Buses on other routes are not required to have seat belts, but the government says it will offer a subsidy for bus operators who choose to have them fitted.
This $48 million will take about 500 older buses off school routes and replace them with newer, buses.
Queensland’s 1600-vehicle school bus fleet transport 83,000 eligible students in regional, rural and remote areas to school and home each day, at an annual cost of around $100 million.
The new funding will expand the government’s School BUS program, which has so far funded the replacement of some 470 buses at a cost of more than $36 million.
“Queensland Transport will work with bus industry bodies to implement the expanded replacement program of school buses in provincial areas, with funding to start in July,” says Transport Minister John Mickel.