Community-focused Yarrabah bus service commences 6-month trial

Kinetic has announced the launch of a new 6-month trial of a community-focused bus service in North Queensland's Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire commencing today, following extensive community consultation during an initial 6-month trial service period.

Based on community feedback and demand, the new 6-month trial service will focus specifically on connecting Yarrabah residents to essential services and shopping facilities.

The service will operate on Wednesdays and Fridays, providing direct transport links between Yarrabah and Earlville Shopping Town via Gordonvale.

The refined service design reflects Kinetic's commitment to responding to community needs and ensuring transport services deliver maximum value to residents.

During the initial trial period, comprehensive feedback was gathered from the Yarrabah community to identify the most important destinations and travel patterns.

Kinetic General Manager (North Queensland) John O'Brien said the enhanced service demonstrated the company's dedication to working closely with First Nations communities to develop meaningful transport solutions.

"We listened carefully to the Yarrabah community throughout our initial trial, and it's clear that access to major shopping centres and essential services is a top priority,” he said.

"This community-focused service will provide reliable, affordable transport to Earlville Shopping Town twice weekly, giving residents better access to retail, banking, healthcare and other essential services."

The Wednesday and Friday service will operate via Gordonvale, providing convenient connections while maintaining the affordable 50-cent fare rate each-way ($1 return), with payment available by cash or credit/debit card.

Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council CEO Mike Miller and Mayor Daryl Sexton welcomed the continuation of the community transport initiative, emphasising how important reliable and affordable travel options are for Yarrabah families, workers and Elders.

“This service meets a very real need in our community,” said Mr Miller.

“Having a regular, low-cost bus service to places like Earlville makes a big difference for our mob.

“It helps people get to shopping, medical appointments, banking, employment and other essential services without the stress of finding transport.

“It also supports our young people, our families and our Elders to stay connected and independent.

“We appreciate Kinetic for walking alongside Council, listening to our community and taking on board the feedback we heard throughout the first trial.”

Mr Miller said the updated timetable and route reflect the voices of Yarrabah residents, with decisions informed by community feedback and the travel patterns observed over the initial 6-month trial.

“The next phase of this trial will keep building on that community input, helping us understand what works best and what the community needs going forward,” he said.

The community-focused service reflects a collaborative approach between Kinetic, Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council, and community members, with the service schedule and destinations selected based directly on community input and usage patterns identified during the initial trial.

The new 6-month trial service will continue to provide valuable data on community transport needs, with ongoing consultation planned to ensure the service continues to meet evolving community requirements.