Local resident campaigns for regular public transport services between Port Douglas and Cairns
BUS TRANSPORT
It’s a common problem that affects many across the Douglas Shire.
It’s 5pm. You’ve just arrived off a flight at Cairns airport and you need an immediate transfer to Port Douglas.
You know a taxi won’t come cheap and Uber is likely to be around $135, so you franticly search around for a bus charter that might be accessible to take you on the hour trip up the Captain Cook Highway.
These types of issues have been on the mind of Douglas Shire resident David Haratis, who has created a Facebook group which he hopes will start the conversation and drive momentum for the region to attain regular public transport services from Douglas to Cairns and vice versa.
The resident continues to lobby for a regular hourly public bus service, both ways, that ideally he feels could and should stop at Mossman, Macrossan Street, Wildlife Habitat, Palm Cove, Smithfield, Cairns airport and Cairns Central.
“The Far North is being short changed,” Mr Haratis suggested in his newly created Facebook group Public TransPORT.
“We have a situation where workers cannot find accommodation and cannot reach the Douglas Shire from Cairns without a car, or private bus.
“Queensland wants to market the Far North to local and international travellers but visiting local areas can cost up to $100 per person return.
“And make sure you don't land at the airport after 5pm if you want to get to Port Douglas. Most private bus companies have stopped, despite the number of evening flights.
“I have raised this with our local member who informed me that it is difficult to justify an urban bus route between Port Douglas and Cairns.
“Not only is this wrong, but it also fails to elicit an understanding of public transport. (You) create the demand by creating the service.”
The Douglas resident believes a regular bus route servicing his proposed route would provide endless benefits for the region.
They include, among others, increased business for restaurants across the region at night, more staff for businesses because of reliable, regular services, access to specialist health care in Cairns, access to Cairns airport outside of private charters’ operations and increased general access to local tourist hotspots and attractions.
“I think it’s a no-brainer,” an adamant Mr Haratis reiterated.
“The sheer number of private bus companies operating airport shuttles is evidence.
“But, as with any government, things only happen when enough people demand it.”
A short time ago Mr Haratis shared his recent correspondence about lobbying for the new route with Cook MP Cynthia Lui’s office.
He suggests, through his posts that despite his efforts, Ms Lui seems uninterested in seriously considering his proposal to establish new public transport bus routes between Douglas and Cairns.
You can get behind Mr Haratis’ push to create the proposed bus service by visiting the Public TransPORT page and joining the conversation.