Public transport petition stalls at Council
MOMENTUM SLOWS
Public transport advocate David Haratsis is frustrated that a petition he organised in favour of a proper public transport service linking Douglas with Cairns remains in limbo at Council, nearly six months on.
Douglas Shire Council agreed to receive the petition at the end of November last year.
The petition contains 188 signatures, mostly from the Douglas region but also from outside the region, including Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and even the US and Bali.
It asks that Douglas Shire Council request the State Government to commission a report into the socio-economic benefit of public transport within the Douglas Shire and further south to Cairns.
“There should be particular emphasis on the benefits to youth, families, the elderly, and disadvantaged people,” Mr Haratsis states in the petition.
When Mr Haratsis presented the petition to Council in November, he hoped they would progress it to a meeting to be voted on early in the new year, then sent to the state government.
But six months later, he has not been given a date and Council would not confirm if the petition has even been put on the agenda for any of its forthcoming Council meetings.
Council’s petition response
We asked Council for an update on the petition, but there was no mention of its actual current status.
A spokesperson said that Mayor Michael Kerr "has spoken to the Member for Cook, Cynthia Lui, on several occasions about this issue.”
Meantime, "these conversations occurred prior to and after we received Mr Haratsis’s petition," Cr Kerr said.
“Cynthia is acutely aware of Council’s position, but at the moment, it comes down to budget.
“We want to assure the petitioners and the community that it is not over yet, and Council will continue to advocate for better transport services between Port Douglas and Cairns.”
Transport advocate unimpressed
But Mr Haratsis was not impressed by Council’s response so far to his petition.
“An insipid response from an insipid council,” he said.
“If only we had a council with proactive operators trying to better the lives of their constituents!”
He also had a further snipe at the member for Cook, who he claimed had no interest in assisting the citizens of the Douglas Shire.
“Cost of living and crime are going to be the big issues she faces at next year's election - it is surprising she is not more actively petitioning her Transport Minister for support on this issue - I mean, they pose for enough selfies together!” Mr Haratsis said.
But Ms Lui said: “Neither my office, nor the Office of the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, have received a petition regarding this issue.
“I am also advised no official petition relating to this matter has been tabled with the Queensland State Parliament.”
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