Some quick background, so recently I visited Cherbourg, a town of over 1000 in the South Burnett Region(note: the town is surrounded by the South Burnett region LGA, but is in its own LGA), by car via the Brisbane valley highway to see the museum they have there, the route I took ended up going via the Brisbane Valley highway, the D’Aguilar Highway, and the Burnett highway, taking about 3 hours, this route mostly follows the route the pursers coach run to Murgon from Caboolture does past Blackbutt. Cherbourg is also one of the most economically disadvantaged communities in the state, and does not have any direct bus services despite the nearest town with services (Murgon) being less than a 10 minute drive away from the town but well over an hours’ walk.
So after this experience I think it is obvious that the run to Murgon by Pursers should be extended, a highly disadvantaged community would surely find economic and social benefits from public transport access and would also allow easier tourist access to the museum and historical precinct. If anyone here is more knowledgeable about the public transport situation in the Burnett region and why there is this lack of a public transport connection I would like to hear it.
Historical reasons such as colonialism and oppression of the local indigenous population
It’s a fair drive from the nearest town
It’s in the Burnett Region which has always had socioeconomic issues
There’s basically no jobs for the locals within a reasonable commute
Ongoing government neglect of the regions
Lots and lots of Alcholism, substance abuse and violence (again a systemic factor).
Overall the stigma regarding the area tends to scares off local investment into the region
Again historical but in the previous century a lot of indigenous peoples were rounded up, taken from their original homes and were effectively dumped in that area.
A lot of the poverty is intergenerational and there is a lot less services available to these people. Lack of access to services often results in worse outcomes and poor living conditions.
According to ABS data backed up by multiple censuses, over 95% of locals live in social housing or rentals. This could be partly because high unemployment makes it very hard to qualify for, let alone pay off a house. Naturally, those who are in these kinds of housing arrangements are often very dependent on government subsidies and are often living in poverty.
Unfortunately many of these points affect most areas with a majority Indigenous population and also with a lot of rural areas in general.
