Attn: Mark Bailey Minister for QLD TMR, Craig Crawford ALP Member for Barron River, Michael Healy ALP Member for Cairns, Angela Toppin Mareeba Mayor, Bob Manning Cairns Mayor

With awareness of imminent meetings in mid December 2020 with QLD TMR and QR, APT Kuranda require that you support the local people of Kuranda and Cairns who are asking that as elected leaders, you listen to the needs of the community by providing affordable public rail transport. We have watched the Kuranda Scenic Rail travel for years just as a tourist ride, it is time for you to understand that the community needs access as an alternative to driving the Kuranda range.

Right now the range is a daily grind, constant trucks, and accidents, there has been no real viable alternatives and they may take years! it is dangerous for all who live in the area for multiple reasons including the now cracked and degraded Barron River Bridge. We are also concerned for wildlife and believe that if a rail line can be used solely for tourists and be safe then the QLD TMR can manage to make the travel affordable to locals who actually participate in running the tourist industry.

Meet with us, ask us how to manage it and we can assist in providing solutions, please do not ignore us on this topic, it has been long enough, and this community has suffered because of it. We have nearly 3000 signatures on the petition with comments to prove current travel is not sustainable. We should not have to fight for basic access to services above tourism, and local members of parliament and council mayors should be aware that it is a longstanding belief that the needs of Kuranda locals have been completely overlooked!

Please do not be the representatives who look back in hindsight and realise they could have saved lives, and contributed to the wellbeing of a community, but didnt. We are giving you alternatives, please give us access to a train with affordable costs, until you work out a viable solution!

Sincerely,
APT Kuranda
Affordable Public Transport Kuranda