Shuttle plan for relief on parking

ABOUT 200 new carparks north of the Cairns CBD are in the works as the Cairns Regional Council moves to ease congestion ahead of the Cairns Aquarium’s opening.

Councillor Richie Bates said the council “needs to think carefully” about providing parking solutions for local commuters.

“We’re very mindful of the Cairns Aquarium opening soon. We are looking at a couple of hundred new centre parking car spaces just north of the CBD,” he said.

“I’m confident we’ll roll out the new parks to coincide with increased use of the CBD.”

He said strategies were already in progress for the new streetside carparks.

“I’ve seen some plans with the additional parking, so I think we’re going to see this sooner than later,” he said.

He said additional parking wasn’t the only solution to the city’s congestion problems, which were likely to increase in the next few months.

“We need to think seriously about a shuttle bus or a loop bus in the city,” he said.

“It could go all the way to the airport and you wouldn’t have to wait more than five minutes for one.

“It’s a much easier solution than doing blockies and looking for a park and it could even connect to outer-CBD carparks.”

A Cairns Regional Council spokeswoman said the introduction of a shuttle bus could be implemented in the next few months.

“Council has engaged a renowned consultant to pull together a discussion paper on sustainable public transport, giving consideration to a city loop bus,” she said.

“Once this is completed it will be tabled with council, hopefully before the end of the calendar year.”

The new Cairns Aquarium is being built on fringe of The Precinct, which includes the new Cairns Performing Arts Centre and the Munro Martin Parklands.

Cr Bates said accessibility had to be at the forefront of the council’s thinking.

“Yes, it’s nice to have all of these cultural activities in the city, but we need to be realistic about how people get there,” he said.

WE NEED TO THINK SERIOUSLY ABOUT A SHUTTLE BUS OR A LOOP BUS IN THE CITY. IT COULD GO ALL THE WAY TO THE AIRPORT AND YOU WOULDN’T HAVE TO WAIT MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES FOR ONE COUNCILLOR RICHIE BATES