Page 31 - Tropic Magazine Issue 35

TROPIC • PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Moving forward

TOWN PLANNING
Advance Cairns has released
its budget requests on public
transport planning to all three
levels of government.
Words: Annabel Bowles
Efficiency isn’t the first word that comes
to mind with Cairns’ public transport “Cairns’ public transport is limited to
systems (our Tropic experiment in
Issue 31 highlights the problems quite buses – now is the time to capitalise on
alternative transport opportunities,” the
eloquently, ICYMI). report reads. “Since the last statutory
The issue’s been brought to the fore since
Dr Paul Sparshott, who holds a PhD in regional and city plans were first
formulated over a decade ago, there has
strategic town planning, relocated from
Brisbane to Cairns last year to take on the been significant development in new
transportation technologies such as
role of Advance Cairns CEO. battery-operated metros, trackless trams,
While everything from urban gondolas
to e-scooters have been raised as options, trains, autonomous vehicles and shuttles,
and personal electric transport devices,
Dr Sparshott says a long-term strategy “Available land north of the city is very
should come first – and one that involves limited and expanding to the west is particularly for end-of-journey trips.
all stakeholders. problematic because of the cost and
The advocacy and economic development difficulty of upgrading the Kuranda
body has recently released its 2022 Range Road. As a result, the city is
Federal Budget Submission, which sprawling south using outdated planning For much of the
details how much money Advance Cairns models where congestion will be the
is asking of each government to develop new norm.” city there is only one
and implement such a plan. Despite advocating for the $659-million road in and out
It also makes a compelling argument Cairns Ring Road upgrade, Advance
to act sooner rather than later. Cairns is now urging governments to Advance Cairns
“Cairns is running out of developable steer away from unsustainable, expensive 2022 Federal
Budget Submission
land,” the report reads. and difficult road upgrades.
“It’s time for these new technologies
and planning models to be researched,
Advance Cairns’ 2022-23 vision considered, and form part of the solution

in reshaping our communities.”
Federal government Advance Cairns is proposing that a

$4 million Integrated Urban strategic partnership be formed between
Development and the state and federal governments and
State government Transport Plan Cairns Regional Council, with a total
$4 million of $10.5 million invested in the next
financial year. The body also says the plan
should involve key stakeholders including
industry bodies, local universities
Local government Cairns Growth and environmental groups, as well
$2.5 million Strategy as the community.

Estimated project cost $230 million
MORE: advancecairns.com

31 • tropicnow.com.au