Calls for new Shire bus services growing louder
Public transport
A long-term local resort manager and owner has backed growing calls for public buses to service Douglas Shire, saying the ongoing success of businesses in the Douglas Shire region “relies heavily” on improving the transport situation.
And transport company owner/operator Channy Singh said on Saturday his company Sizzling Wheels is willing to run a regular bus service between Port Douglas and Mossman, but will need subsidisation from the State Government or Douglas Shire Council to make the service work.
Nathan Bonneau-Plassa, who is one of the operators behind Mossman Exchange & Backpacker and Turtle Cove Beach resorts, wrote to Newsport last week outlining why more affordable transport was so crucial for the region.
“The ongoing success of both our businesses and the wider region relies heavily on improved transport accessibility,” Mr Bonneau-Plassa said.
“Strengthening transport links is critical to connecting suburbs and townships.
“Many in the region rely on affordable transport to commute between accommodation, employment, and services.
“Improved public and private transport options will allow visitors to explore more destinations, staying longer and spending more across the region.”
And Mr Singh said he could model a new service on a timetable he ran about eight years ago. Sizzling Wheels already runs a service for Miallo school, so buses are commuting between Mossman and Port Douglas right now.
Mr Bonneau-Plassa and Mr Singh were responding to fresh calls by former mayoral candidate David Haratsis to introduce public transport to the region in the wake of a State Budget funding announcement about new community bus services at Dimbulah, Ravenshoe and Babinda.
Public-transport advocate Mr Haratsis has previously 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,” he said last week.
Mr Haratsis wrote to DSC in March this year about the petition in the hope it would advocate harder for improved transport.
“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, with Mayor Scomazzon recently meeting with the Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg.”
Cook MP David Kempton said this week he had not yet been approached in relation to a public bus link to Port Douglas.
“I am aware there are numerous private operators, and of course, taxis,” Mr Kempton said.
“I am not aware of any plans for the Government to extend the bus service beyond Cairns.
“However, if a case can be made for an extension of existing services, and it is what the community wants, then I will of course support those efforts.”
Public buses travel between Cairns, Mareeba and Atherton multiple times daily.
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 service from Cairns to Cooktown three times a week for about $36 to Port Douglas, $40 to Mossman and $60 to Cow Bay.
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