Council to deliver on election commitment for more CityCat services

Brisbane lord mayor Graham Quirk has allocated money in the 2018-19 council budget to deliver on a 2016 election commitment for new CityCat services.

Cr Quirk announced the "SpeedyCat" services during his 2016 election campaign.

A further $4.5 million has been budgeted for a new CityCat which would take the current fleet to 22 vessels.Credit: Harrison Saragossi

The service promised then was to halve peak-hour CityCat travel times and run between Teneriffe and the city, as well as between the University of Queensland and the city.

On Monday Cr Quirk revealed the services would be funded in the 2018-19 budget, two years after the commitment was made.

The Brisbane City Council budget will be handed down on Wednesday.

Funding, understood to be about $1 million within the council CityCat and ferry operating subsidy, would deliver the 100 new express “SpeedyCat” services a week from September.

The funded services differ slightly from the election commitment and would run from Northshore Hamilton, as opposed to Teneriffe.

Cr Quirk said the service would be part of a $68 million spend over the coming year for new river transport services.

“A further $19.3 million will be dedicated towards upgrading ferry terminals across the city, including a major overhaul of the Guyatt Park ferry terminal and St Lucia,” he said.

A further $4.5 million has been budgeted for a new CityCat which would take the current fleet to 22 vessels.

Opposition councillor Kara Cook accused the LNP and Cr Quirk of being arrogant and out of touch following the announcement.

“They have conveniently left Bulimba off the new express CityCat service list,” she said on Twitter.

“Is this more punishment for the residents of Morningside for not voting the way they wanted at the recent byelection?”