Yarrabah to Cairns bus service begins six month trial

A community bus service from Yarrabah to Cairns is being trialled for six months to connect residents to work opportunities and further public transport.

With over 3500 residents, Yarrabah is the traditional land of the Gunggandji and Yidinji people. Picture: Brendan Radke

A community bus service from Yarrabah to Cairns is being trialled for six months to connect residents to work opportunities and further public transport.

The service, run by local operator Kinetic, runs Monday to Friday and began on June 16.

It includes both early morning and afternoon runs to the Portsmith Marine Precinct for workers, and an additional daytime service to Edmonton and Mt Sheridan will run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Kinetic said the service provided “community members with greater connectivity to essential services and transport links” and was designed to meet “the specific needs of the Yarrabah community”.

Kinetic general manager for North Queensland John O’Brien said it was hoped the service would lead to more job opportunities.

Robert Friskin, general manager of Yarrabah employment service Wugu Nyambil, said transport was a major barrier to Yarrabah residents securing work.

He said it would provide “great” opportunities for residents.

An aerial view of Yarrabah. Picture: Brendan Radke

“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,” Mr Friskin said.

The service has 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).

The service is a partnership between Kinetic, Wugu Nyambil Employment, Local Jobs Cairns, the Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council and local employers.

Funding is shared between the Australian Government, Kinetic, and Tropical Reef Shipyard.

The announcement follows a series of rock throwing incidents in Yarrabah.

Healthcare workers reported the bus that transported them to and from the Yarrabah hospital was being targeted by youths who were throwing rocks at the bus with slingshots as it went past.

One healthcare worker was reportedly injured by the attacks in April.

In May, a police officer was injured after an offender or offenders threw a rock at a police vehicle, breaking the window and causing minor injuries to the officer.

Originally published as Yarrabah to Cairns bus service begins six month trial