Article: Petition gaining strong support (Townsville)

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Petition gaining strong support

Petition gaining strong support

ANTHONY TEMPLETON  |  August 15th, 2012

MORE than 600 students have signed a petition to have decommissioned bus stops at James Cook University put back into use.

The JCU Students Association have organised the petition to get the Department of Transport and Main Roads to reverse its decision to scrap services to several bus stops at the Douglas campus.

The department last month changed bus routes to and from JCU, scrapping services to several bus stops along the James Cook Dr ring road, with buses only stopping at a centralised bus stop outside the Students Association building.

The changes have raised concerns about students catching late-night bus services, forcing them to walk kilometres to classes, research laboratories or on-campus accommodation.

Students Association president Nikita Burnett said students overwhelmingly supported moves to get the bus stops back into service.

"To have more than 600 students sign the petition obviously shows the decision to change the services to JCU is the wrong one," she said.

"Students have raised lots of issues with the Association including safety at night, catching buses during the wet season and running late for their classes.

"Services to the university need to be increased, not removed."

Ms Burnett said she would circulate the petition for another fortnight before delivering copies to Mundingburra MP David Crisafulli and the transport department in Brisbane.

"Students and staff can still sign the hard-copy petition which is in several locations on campus and the electronic copy which has been emailed out to all JCUSA members," she said. "We're hoping to get as much support as we can before we send the results of the petition to David Crisafulli and the department."

Cr Trevor Roberts, who represents residents living at and near JCU, said he hoped the transport department reversed the decision.

He said the council did not have to maintain the condition of the bus stops. "Because they are on JCU property the uni has an arrangement to look after all the stops and the road as well."

Mr Crisafulli was unavailable for comment yesterday.