“Betrayal”: Residents’ fury ferries cancelled, terminal closed

Hundreds of cars will be funnelled onto one of Brisbane’s busiest roads and a three-minute journey will become an hour-long commute after a shock decision to close two Brisbane ferry terminals.

A three-minute journey will become an hour-long commute and hundreds of cars will be funnelled onto one of Brisbane’s busiest roads, as a “sorry saga” of ferry controversies continues.

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Questions raised over CityHopper, Cross River ferry suspension

Brisbane City Council today announced its decision to cancel the Norman Park to New Farm Park Cross River Ferry Service and close the Norman Park Ferry terminal.

Services from the terminal ceased in July when council pulled nine of its CityHopper and Cross River ferries from the water following safety concerns due to the integrity of their hulls.

Disappointed residents have since lodged appeals to have the ferries returned, with a petition calling for the Norman Park CrossRiver service to be reinstated attracting more than 300 signatures.

Cr Kara Cook with Norman Park resident Bob Rees at Norman Park Ferry Terminal. Picture: Richard Walker

However, a letter, circulated to residents yesterday, announced council’s decision to permanently retire the service due to a lack of patronage and the terminal’s dated design.

“The Norman Park to New Farm Cross River service carries 133 passengers on 136 services per day … by far the lowest patronage of any Council ferry service,” Public and Active Transport Chair Ryan Murphy said.

A letter from Council to Norman Park Residents announcing the closure of the ferry terminal. Picture: supplied

“The Norman Park terminal is at end-of-life and is not compliant with modern disability access standards.”

But council data shows that in the week of July 22, 2019, almost 10,000 passengers used the three Cross River services.

Norman Park local Daniel Green said the decision was “devastating” – and questioned the reliability of the patronage figures.

“I’m just curious of how they derived their data as to the numbers,” he said.

Doomba in service. A CityHopper ferry operated by Brisbane City Council.

“The thing that probably annoys me the most is that there was no community consultation at all,” Mr Green said.

Local councillor Kara Cook called the decision to cancel the services a “betrayal” and said her community’s battle to have ferries reinstated had been a “sorry saga”.

“Here is another example of locals’ needs being blatantly ignored,” she said.

Without the Cross River ferry service, Norman Park Residents travelling to New Farm would face an almost hour-long bus trip or would need to drive down notorious traffic on Wynnum Road, according to local Bob Rees.

Norman Park resident Bob Rees poses for a photograph at Norman Park Ferry Terminal. – Picture: Richard Walker

“It’s such a misguided decision … for a council that’s professing to have real concern for keeping traffic of the road and promoting public transport,” he said.

Mr Murphy said Council would invest $48.7 million over the next three years to upgrade terminals including terminals to boost flood resilience and to ensure the terminals can cater for the KittyCat vessels and increased passenger demand.

Council also announced the closure of the Thornton St Ferry terminal in Kangaroo Point due to the construction of the nearby Green Bridge.