Parking plight upsets locals

MOVES by Cairns Regional Council to create more parking spaces on the fringe of the Central Business District is great in theory, but not so good in practice.

More than 350 spaces have been created at Cairns North in the surrounds of Cairns Hospital, Cairns Private Hospital and Cairns State High School.

But the aftermath has created a bitter war between residents and motorists.

The cramming as many spaces as possible into the centre of streets has created a sardine tin-like situation.

Furthermore, motorists are parking so closely to driveways that bigger vehicles such as rubbish trucks cannot get in and out.

The result is residential streets have become parking ghettos, with vehicles jampacked and the neighbourhood environment sullied.

It’s become a battleground as workers fight for limited spaces and in doing so create ill-feeling with residents.

Many CBD employees will not use the Sunbus network for many reasons, including the time it takes and prejudices about other bus users.

It’s doubtful whether commuters would use a metro-style shuttle service which has been shelved by the council.

One idea, which gets swept under the carpet, is a commuter train from Redlynch to the city and from Gordonvale.

It is said the latter would run on the wrong side of the Bruce Highway for safe access by passengers while the other would be in conflict with the Kuranda Scenic Railway timetable.

But placing these items in the toohard basket is just being ignorant. Nick Dalton Deputy editor