Multi-national bus and coach operator Kinetic has officially unveiled its upgraded electric bus depot in Portsmith, Cairns.
The updated depot is now home to five battery electric buses, a new maintenance facility and a new administration and operations building.
The site will act as an important base to power the region’s transition to a zero-emissions bus network, with the five electric buses to provide a better travel experience for regular commuters and visitors in Far North Queensland.
Part of the project involved Kinetic delivering a new operations and administration building alongside a maintenance workshop, with Queensland tourism minister Michael Healy officially opening the facility alongside Kinetic co-CEO Michael Sewards.
“This upgrade is an important investment in the future sustainability of our operations, delivering infrastructure that will support the Cairns community now and for decades to come,” Sewards says.
“With new facilities to support the maintenance and presentation of our vehicles and delivery of services, we now have the capacity to focus on the continued electrification of our fleet in the region.
“This is something we are doing across the world in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia – and it’s exciting to be leading this transformation here in major regional cities like Cairns as well.”
Sewards says that, as Kinetic transitions towards a net-zero future, significant investments are required in technology and facilities to keep pace.
The depot comes after Kinetic first launched electric buses in Cairns back in 2022, with the operator since running zero-emissions buses on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
Healy says the public transport network is critical to the visitor experience for millions of tourists who travel to Cairns to experience the natural wonders of the region.
“We launched some of Queensland’s first electric buses here in Cairns and I am pleased to say the response from passengers and the community has been fantastic,” he says.
“In partnership with Kinetic, this leadership and further investment in its local facilities showcases steady progress in our region and a shared commitment to providing a cleaner and greener transport network.
“It will also provide greater capacity to deliver enhanced services for Cairns as we continue to grow and attract visitors from around the world.”
Having operated bus services in Cairns since 2008, Sunbus was acquired by Kinetic in 2019, with a team of more than 170 passionate and dedicated people now delivering more than 3.4 million passenger journeys each year.
Kinetic executive general manager for north Queensland Martin Hall says the new facility has improved the workplace environment.
“Our team is proud of the important work they do, and it is fantastic to see them enjoying these new facilities,” he says.
“From drivers, cleaners, mechanics and operations staff, we know that investing in our people, in our fleet and facilities is absolutely essential to attracting new people to the industry as we strive for a diverse and engaged workforce.”