Ticket to ride

Even though the Queensland Government will only subsidise certain transport activities until the Douglas shire's population grows significantly, this doesn't mean we can't have our tapas and eat it too.

Imagine living in Cooya, Wonga or Mossman and being able to catch a bus to Port Douglas in the evening for a romantic dinner with that special someone and be able to get home again. Imagine being able to live in an area of the shire that is perhaps more affordable or lifestyle oriented, and yet still be able to get to your workplace easily, safely and on time via an organized local transport network.

Most people I have talked to on this subject don't believe this is at all possible for all sorts of reasons, I am here to tell you that it is not only feasible, practical and affordable, it is very needed.

The current 'breadcrumb' transport mentality on offer by local shuttle companies in Port Douglas is neither helpful to local workers, the environment, nor is it equitable for the transport companies involved. When the visitors' dollars are moving the residents miss out.

Have you ever been late for work or an appointment because of a local shuttle timetable irregularity? I rest my case.

For this to work we would need to encourage a 'community partnership' arrangement with the Queensland Department of Transport, the Douglas Shire Council and one or more accredited local transport operators. Queensland Transport would need to grant a 'license to operate' to the DSC run 'community partnership' and that partnership would, in turn, reinvest a portion of the net local shuttle revenue on other community bus services that have an identified social outcome.

The local transport companies would be paid an agreed amount per person per service and wherever a service needs propping up financially, the operator can claim from the 'kitty' a subsidy for the agreed cost or partial cost of the run.

This arrangement could be easily managed via ticket control whereby the community partnership own and supply the tickets and pay operators on tickets collected. This, coupled with an integrated approach to transport planning within the Douglas Shire, should be able to deliver us a subsidised public transport network that is both usable and equitable for all.

Oh well … dreams are free.