Darwin Buses and Cyclones Martin Bennett Department of Lands and Planning NT

摘要

Tropical cyclones pose a serious threat to people, property and infrastructure in the Northern Territory. Cyclone management plans include requirements for the pre- and post-cyclone operations of public transport. The Darwin Bus Service (DBS) supplies about half the buses in the Darwin and City of Palmerston bus network; these buses are among the last vehicles to leave urban roads ahead of an impending cyclone, and among the first to be deployed in its aftermath. Category one Cyclone Carlos dumped record breaking rains on Darwin and battered the city with strong winds in mid February. As the cyclone approached, DBS buses were recalled to their near CBD depot following notice from the cyclone transport coordinator at the Department of Lands and Planning. Recalling buses from their routes is the first step in applying the protocols of pre-cyclone bus storage.