A new community bus service has launched in Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire, aiming to break down transport barriers and connect residents with employment opportunities, essential services, and public transport links in Cairns.
The six-month trial, operated by Kinetic, will provide weekday transport to the Portsmith Marine Precinct for workers, along with daytime services to Edmonton and Mt Sheridan three days a week.
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The initiative is the result of a partnership between Kinetic, Wugu Nyambil Employment, Local Jobs Cairns, the Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council and local employers, with funding shared between the federal government, Kinetic, and Tropical Reef Shipyard.
Kinetic North Queensland general manager John O’Brien says the new service was a demonstration of a joint commitment amongst the local community.
“By providing more public transport connections, we’re opening up employment opportunities all around the region by adding to residents’ commuting options,” O’Brien says.
The service has been designed to meet the specific needs of the Yarrabah community, with stops at Noble Street (Wugu Nyambil), Edmonton (Cattle Street at Old Bruce Highway), Mt Sheridan Plaza (Barnard Dr), Tropical Reef Shipyard (Portsmith off Cook St) and Norship (Tingira Street), to enable connections to workplaces and existing public transport networks.
Passengers will only be charged a 50-cent fare rate each-way ($1 return), with payment made by cash or credit/debit card.
Tropical Reef Shipyards business development manager Andrew Wagner says the dedicated coordination of all partners had removed the transport barrier to accessing work and workers.
“This is a real opportunity for the Yarrabah community and us to grow our Maritime Precinct and bring prosperity to Cairns and Yarrabah,” Wagner says.
Wugu Nyambil general manager Robert Friskin says transport is a major barrier to obtaining work for Yarrabah residents.
“We thank our partners for collaborating to enable this service to become a reality and look forward to the positive impact on members of the Yarrabah community,” Friskin says.
To mark the launch, Kinetic will host a Moving the Mob information session alongside Wugu Nyambil, highlighting career pathways in transport for First Nations people through Kinetic’s dedicated employment program.
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