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After lengthy discussions over recent years, Redland City Council has agreed to a deal that brings the long-awaited upgrade of Queensland’s Southern Moreton Bay Islands ferry terminals a step closer.

The council has had extensive negotiations with the Department of Transport and Main Roads (‘TMR’), Queensland Government and the islands’ communities and is hopeful that the Department will now move quickly to take the project forward. It has consulted closely with residents to understand how they use the terminals, what they like and don't like about them, what the upgraded terminals should do and how they should look.

Moreton Bay Islands Ferry Boats

About the project and public consultation 

Moreton Island is 40km from Brisbane and is only accessible via ferry, barge or private boat, with daily sailings of barges and ferries taking passengers and vehicles from the island to the mainland.

The $34.1 million project is an exciting and important development for Redlands Coast and its economic future. It covers upgrading or replacing the terminals on the Russell, Macleay, Lamb and Karragarra Islands over a four-year period, with the Russell Island terminal to be the first to proceed. 

The upgrade will include the terminals’ jetties, gangways, and pontoons, also converting some ferry pontoons for recreational uses such as fishing and mooring. After their upgrade, the ferry terminals will be safer and more accessible, including for disabled passengers, with better facilities and security for passengers waiting, boarding and disembarking.

“The community has waited a long time to see the terminals receive the significant upgrades that they and Council have fought for and which are not just a daily necessity for island residents but vital to Redlands Coast economic future,” said a Council spokesperson. “These communities have no other transport options available to them.”

Council has welcomed a State Government offer to design and co-fund the terminal’s revamp and will now start negotiating a deed of agreement with TMR. Funding is available through the Passenger Transport Infrastructure Investment Program (PTIIP) and the State and Council will share construction costs for this vital infrastructure.

The terminal upgrades will strongly benefit the island’s residents and visitors, improving commuter safety and access to employment and critical services including health. 

Member for Redlands, Ms Kim Richards, said the upgrades are both a vital piece of infrastructure for local residents and are important destination experiences to showcase the Redlands Coast islands. Working with TMR, the Council will help fund the upgrades through a $17.5 million fund established for ferry terminal upgrades in the state budget.

Transport and Main Roads will lead the detailed design work after the Government provided $250,000 to the Council in 2016-17 towards the planning and development of a business case.

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The Opportunity 

As much of this project is still in the design phase, it’s difficult to quantify the number of jobs that may be required.  However, we still see significant opportunities for consulting, engineering, infrastructure, and construction job seekers within this project.

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