‘Waiting too long’: Greens’ pledge for new Brisbane CityCat terminal

An additional ferry terminal was first identified for delivery in 2011 under LNP Lord Mayor Campbell Newman, but it’s taken a Greens leader to project back on the agenda.

The 13-year battle for an inner-city suburb to get a second CityCat terminal has been reignited by the Greens less than a month out from the Brisbane council election.

Lord mayoral candidate Jonathan Sriranganathan has committed to delivering a new West End ferry terminal over the next four years, if they gain power on March 16.

The second terminal was first identified for delivery in the South Brisbane Riverside Neighbourhood Plan in 2011 under LNP Lord Mayor Campbell Newman.

Jonathan Sriranganathan believes West End residents “have been waiting too long” for an additional connection. Photo: Richard Walker.

Mr Sriranganathan has costed the project at $10-15m, suggesting the money required could come from council’s existing rolling budget allocation for new ferry terminals.

The 2011 South Brisbane Riverside Neighbourhood Plan suggested the second CityCat terminal be built at Victoria Street.

The Greens agree the best location would be along Riverside Drive near Victoria Street or Beesley Street, but there may also be a case for putting it closer to Davies Park.

Mr Sriranganathan reignited this exact issue in the lead up to the 2020 council election, and also suggested the alternative location near Davies Park at the time.

There have been petitions submitted to council pushing for a second West End terminal in 2016 and 2020. Both were rejected.

In 2020, council transport committee chair Ryan Murphy – who remains in the role – said West End was already one of the best serviced parts of the city for public transport.

“We need to ensure as much as possible that transport is equitable around the city and people in the outer suburbs can access it as well,” he said at the time.

The council had also committed in 2020 to building two new Green Bridges that would service West End – one at Toowong, the other at St Lucia.

However, progress on both bridges has since stalled. Their current status is listed on the Brisbane City Council website as: “Paused subject to funding availability.”

Mr Sriranganathan said West End residents “have been waiting too long” for the additional connection.

“There are many more ferry terminals along the north bank of the river, and a big gap between terminals on the southern side,” he said.

“The western side of West End is one of the most densely populated neighbourhoods in Queensland, and the suburb is also a major employment hub.

“Unfortunately buses still get stuck in general traffic, but a new stop for CityCats will help reduce congestion on Montague Road, Coronation Drive, and the major cross-river bridges by giving commuters a river-based public transport alternative.”

LNP campaign spokeswoman Fiona Cunningham said Mr Sriranganathan was “way up a creek without a paddle” with his proposal.

“What he’s put forward would mean cutting funding from the new terminal planned at Eagle Street,” she said.

“It would mean rejecting the contribution towards this new terminal being made by the developers of Waterfront Brisbane.

“His proposal to cut funding for the busiest terminal in the network would massively disadvantage the tens of thousands of Brisbane residents and visitors who use it.

“The only way the Green/Labor Coalition of Chaos will pay for their reckless policies is to drive up the cost of rates and rents for every single Brisbane resident.”