Mowbray Park CityCat terminal to open, KittyCat services added

One of Brisbane’s most popular CityCat terminals will re-open next week bigger than ever, while KittyCat services are set to multiply.

Finishing touches being applied to the reopened Mowbray Park CityCat terminal in Kangaroo Point.

One of Brisbane’s most popular CityCat terminals, Mowbray Park in Kangaroo Point, will re-open on December 9 after an eight-month upgrade.

Three more, faster cross-river services will also start from January 28, with a major review into the council ferry service launching next year.

However, the addition of Mowbray Park meant stops at Apollo Road in Bulimba and Milton would be reduced.

The reopened Mowbray Park terminal came in just $500,000 over its $20 million budget, Transport Chair Ryan Murphy said.

“This change will double KittyCat services and make sure they connect into the CityCat timetable, creating a seamless travel experience for those wanting to access our network,’’ he said.

“As we continue to upgrade terminals like Mowbray Park and deliver new cross-river bridges, we are creating a transport network that will benefit our city for years to come.”

He said the upgrade also included extensive landscaping and accessible pathways through Mowbray Park plus much more seating.

Finishing touches being applied to the reopened Mowbray Park CityCat terminal in Kangaroo Point.

The new terminal could now berth two CityCats at once.

More than 50,000 hours of work also delivered a new flood resilient walkway, improved lighting and CCTV safety cameras.

People boarding from the Mowbray Park terminal would have direct access to Howard Smith Wharves for the first time once services resumed on December 9.

Howard Smith Wharves was first added to the CityCat network in May this year.

Since then, an average of 60,000 passengers a month have used the Howard Smith Wharves terminal to travel to and from the precinct.

Mr Murphy said the existing 30-36 minute cross-river services, which had experienced long queues, had been reconfigured to 15-minute services with connections to CityCats.

Passengers would still only be charged 50 cents if they took a connecting ferry.

Mr Murphy said council took action after the cheap fare deal sparked a massive 43 per cent jump in ferry commuters.

He said they were also popular with visitors and sightseers. TripAdvisor rated them the third most popular attraction in Brisbane.

The new KittyCat services would run between Maritime Museum and QUT Gardens Point, between Holman Street and Riverside and between the Dockside and Sydney Street terminals.

Mr Murphy said the resumption of services from Mowbray Park increased the number of operational CityCat terminals to 19, the highest ever.

But that would require adjustments to the CityCat timetable.

From 9 December, CityCats trips would alternate their stopping pattern at Apollo Road (Bulimba) and Milton terminals, in both directions.

That meant only every second service would stop at those terminals.

They were selected due to lower patronage and alternative nearby public transport.

Translink said on its website that the changes were needed to accommodate the extra travel time required to stop at Mowbray Park.

“This means some CityCat trips will skip either Apollo Road or Milton terminal,’’ it said.

“Other ferry terminals are not affected.

“Morning and afternoon express CityCats, between West End and QUT Gardens Point, will make an additional stop at Milton.’’