Magnetic Island hotel owner laments blunder over council bus shelter

An exasperated Magnetic Island pub owner says bureaucracy has gone bonkers over an unused $120,000 bus shelter.

Arcadia Village Hotel owner John Shepley and Arcadia Newsagency owner Karen Chapple at the unused $120,000 bus stop at on Armand Way. They say a bureaucratic impasse has adversely impacted local businesses. Mr Shepley says one of the most maddening aspects of the debacle is not being able to talk to a relevant government official, saying contacting News Corp was his last-remaining option. Picture: Supplied

An exasperated Magnetic Island pub owner says bureaucracy has gone bonkers over an unused $120,000 bus shelter.

Arcadia Village Hotel owner John Shepley said Townsville City Council and the state government had recently completed extensive drainage renovation works around the pub, which included temporarily moving a bus shelter from outside the newsagency on Armand Way to Alma Bay.

He said a flash new bus shelter on Route 250 had been built at great expense earlier this year but public bus operator Translink had incredulously instructed its drivers not to use it due to unfounded safety concerns.

“There was a driver over from Townsville covering someone’s annual leave who complained about doing a U-turn that they’ve been doing for 30 years, saying it was dangerous,” he said.

“So Translink in its wisdom, without any community consultation, have told their drivers they are not allowed to use the new bus stop.”

Route 250 bus services on Magnetic Island were diverted from Armand Way from September 2023 due to Townsville City Council roadworks on Armand Way, which impacted Alma Bay bus stop. Picture: Supplied

Arcadia Village Hotel owner John Shepley said it was mind-blowing how much money had been spent on building Magnetic Island’s ‘Best Bus Stop’, which Translink refused to use for purported safety reasons. Picture: Supplied

Mr Shepley said bus drivers from the island who were happy to use the new bus stop were instead using “the crappy bus stop on Hales Avenue”.

“It means customers from the (nearby) motel have got to drag their luggage across the dirt track or the customers for the newsagents have got to walk over from Hales Avenue, which is about 300 metres away,” he said.

“It’s not a huge trek, it’s just that at night time, customers leaving the pub are put at risk walking in darkness across to the bus stop at Hales Avenue.”

The unlit path from the Hayles Avenue bus stop, which Arcadia Village Hotel owner John Shepley said was a hazard to guests, particularly at night. Picture: Supplied

Mr Shepley said the easily rectifiable problem had reached an impasse thanks to what he labelled a nameless, faceless Translink bureaucrat in Brisbane.

He said he had been in contact with Councillor Ann-Maree Greaney and written to Townsville MP Scott Stewart but “apparently something is happening with TMR (Transport and Main Roads) but no-one is allowed to know who is making the decisions and why these decisions are being made”.

Mr Shepley said the only course of action left to frustrated suffering local businesses was to approach the Townsville Bulletin.

It is understood that both Translink and the operator, Kinetic, provided advice to the council that they did not support the changes and raised safety and network concerns but that advice was rejected.

Kinetic directed media enquiries to Translink.

The corner of Armand Way and Marine Parade, which Mr Shepley said bus drivers have been told not to use to complete U-turns due to safety concerns despite recent road-widening works. Picture: Supplied

Translink confirmed that Route 250 services continued to be diverted along Hayles Avenue due to “safety concerns about U-turn manoeuvres at the Armand Way-Marina Parade T intersection”.

A spokesman said it was working with the council to develop a infrastructure solution to improve safety at the T intersection before it reinstated services.

“This solution needs to meet the requirements of all road users and to be certified by a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland as well as meeting the requirements of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport.”

TCC, in a statement, said it was “working with Translink to improve the safety of bus routes along Armand Way and Marine Parade, Arcadia on Magnetic Island”.

Mr Stewart said the island road network was run and managed by the council.

“I know this is an issue for local businesses which is why I have asked the transport minister to request Transport and Main Roads work with council to find a solution to help local businesses,” he said..

“The quicker a solution can be found, the better for everyone and I will continue to advocate on the community’s behalf.”

Originally published as Magnetic Island hotel owner laments blunder over council bus shelter