Babinda bus is coming, but where's ours?
Shire transport
Funding in the latest State Budget for new community bus services at Dimbulah, Ravenshoe and Babinda has shone a fresh spotlight on the long-running issue of a lack of public buses in Douglas Shire.
Public-transport advocate and former mayoral candidate David Haratsis has called for the introduction of buses between Mossman, Cooya and Port Douglas, as well as trialling a service between Palm Cove and Port Douglas.
He tabled a more-than-300-signature petition calling for improved public transport in Douglas Shire Council in late 2022.
“Despite receiving a petition, council doesn’t seem to have done anything,” Mr Haratsis said yesterday.
“With the cane industry gone and a housing crisis, it seems to make sense to have local public transport.”
Mr Haratsis wrote to DSC in March this year reminding them of the petition in the hope councillors and staff would advocate harder and start planning for improved transport services in the region.
“Ultimately, council aren’t interested and no one lobbies the State Government,” he said.
A reply from council chief executive Scott Osman was received in late March.
“Mayor Lisa Scomazzon and the Councillors continue to advocate on this matter with the new elected Queensland Government and Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), with Mayor Scomazzon recently meeting with the Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg in Brisbane to discuss a range of transport and roads related matters,” the letter stated.
“Council will continue to advocate for improved transport services, although Council will not be undertaking an investigation into the socio-economic benefits of public transport in the region.”
Mr Osman recommended that Mr Haratsis contact TMR and Minister Mickelberg’s office to further pursue his request.
Public buses travel between Cairns, Mareeba and Atherton multiple times daily.
Trans North Bus and Coach Service operates a passenger service offering three return services Monday to Friday and two return services Saturday, Sunday and public holidays.
You can also hail down a bus at any location enroute, as long as the bus can stop safely, with Cairns to Atherton costing about $27, and $20 to Mareeba.
Upon request, this service will also drop off at Cairns Airport, Reef Fleet Terminal and hospitals in Cairns.
So why not north to Port Douglas and Mossman?
Mr Haratsis last November called for a trial of buses from Port Douglas to Palm Cove, but Translink said the route was too long to run a public-transport service.
Translink subsidises a Trans North 4WD vehicle service from Cairns to Cooktown three times a week, which costs about $36 to Port Douglas, $40 to Mossman and $60 to Cow Bay.
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