Push on Council for bike paths to be completed
Cycle Network
Douglas Shire residents have been led down the garden - or bicycle - path on promised projects never completed, says Cooya resident Josie Muller.
Ms Muller has delved into the plans for the FNQ Principal Cycle Network Cycleway program to uncover the Priority A Project has been incorrectly marked off as “completed” by council, while a Shire representative suggests the advice is being misinterpreted.
The Cycle Network Cycleway: Mossman to Cooya Beach program was marked as being completed by Council in 2023, but it has not been.
“Long, key sections, were never built,’’ says Ms Muller.
The project outlined a key priority of the Far North Queensland Principle Cycle Network was to construct a 4.6km wide shared cycleway, connecting Mossman CBD to Cooya Beach.
“This included a cycle path up Melaleuca St to Bouganvillea (Cooya’s esplanade) that was never constructed,’’ she says.
“I also note that this was a Priority A Project, and marked off as completed, yet the cycle path down Bonnie Doone Rd to the Cook Hwy was also not ever constructed.
“This section should have continued on from where the off-shoot down Melaleuca should also have been constructed.
“Strangely, and without explanation, the path suddenly ceases near Cooya Beach Rd, coming from Mossman.”
Ms Muller is now pushing hard for the project to be completed.
“Given it is now August 2026; 10 years on since the development of the above-mentioned project development, I ask that this is tabled for Council’s next meeting to provide an explanation of the error and a commitment to ensuring this project is completed,’’ she has written to Douglas Shire Council.
“It is unacceptable that it has been marked off as ‘complete’ when it is missing vast portions of cycle pathway.
“This project was investigated, planned, promised and budgeted to Cooya Beach and Mossman as a critical community project of great importance from State funded Grants.”
And it seems clear that Ms Muller won’t put the brakes on her quest for cycle connectivity across the Shire, highlighting plans to link Mossman to Port Douglas being in existence.
“I also note that other DSC communities had projects semi-delivered, or not commenced at all, despite most having investigations and plans prepared,’’ she said.
“This includes a Port Douglas section, linking Mossman to PD.”
But Douglas Shire Council has responded by clariffying its position on the project, saying Council does not consider the Mossman to Cooya Beach Principal Cycle Network project to be completed.
"The completed status referred to works that took place in 2023 only. Council’s website has been edited to make this clearer,'' a council spokesperson said when asked questions by Newsport.
"Council relies heavily on external grant funding for new footpaths and shared pathways and continues to pursue suitable opportunities to progress missing links in the active transport network.
"The outstanding Cooya Beach connection remain part of Council’s broader PCN priorities and are included in Council’s draft 10-year Capital Program as future planning items, noting that no funding has been committed at this stage.''