Push for City Cat extension to bypass Pinkenba terminal eyesore

Leading tourism and business bodies have backed calls for Pinkenba to undergo a major facelift to match the international cruise terminal status.

Calls have been made for the City Cat service be extended to Pinkenba to provide a direct route to the CBD from the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal.

A City Cat extension connecting the CBD to the new Brisbane International Cruise Terminal has been put forward amid calls for the “derelict” Pinkenba to undergo a major facelift.

Public transport and the overall appeal of the route to and from the $177m terminal were laid bare in a Sunday-Mail report leading to calls for the suburb to be revitalised.

It’s also sparked suggestions for the City Cat service to be extended to Pinkenba to provide with a direct route into the city for passengers to spend money locally.

The Brisbane International Cruise Terminal at Pinkenba. Picture: Liam Kidston

Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Brett Fraser said the tourism sector supported upgrades to the terminal surrounds.

Mr Fraser said the state’s tourism industry had long been urging all parties involved to work together towards a meaningful solution.

“While Queenslanders can be proud of their world-class international cruise terminal, the surrounding area would benefit from a rejuvenation,” Mr Fraser said.

Mr Fraser said it was critical that the customer experience was not let down during a once-in-a-lifetime holiday.

“The journey is just as important as the destination so it’s important that we ensure visitors enjoy a standout trip,” he said.

Critics are calling for an upgrade to the ‘derelict’ area around Brisbane's major cruise terminal. Picture: Liam Kidston.

“Holiday-makers need easy and affordable access between the terminal and Brisbane’s fantastic precincts and icons.

“It’s critical that we provide seamless opportunities for travellers to experience more of Brisbane and its surrounds.”

Property Council Queensland executive director Jen Williams said a “fabulous” venue such as the terminal was “nought” without appropriate transport connection and activation of streets and community surrounding it.

“It’s a great asset for the city, and one that will no doubt see heightened levels of patronage in the lead up to, during, and post-Games,” Ms Williams said.

“Along with all the infrastructure being built or upgraded for 2032, planning and investment must also focus on the places and spaces in between major venues and points of arrival.

“A fabulous venue is naught without great transport connections and activation of the streets and community surrounding it.”

Brett Fraser said the state’s peak tourism body supported calls for Pinkenba to undergo a major facelift. Picture: Liam Kidston

Property Council Queensland executive director Jen Williams. Picture: Tara Croser

In a letter calling for improvements to the transport system, Queensland resident Mike Banks suggested an extension to the City Cat service on cruise days.

In Mr Banks’s email, which The Courier-Mail has permission to publish, he said getting to and from the terminal was a “nightmare” compounded by an “inexcusable” lack of public transport options.

“Since the road into and out of the Pinkenba area is so awful and likely to take considerable time and money to fix, wouldn’t it be great is passengers could hop on a City Cat and cruise along the river to visit any number of stops and spend their money?” Mr Banks wrote.

What tourists from cruise ships see on the bus trip from terminal to Brisbane. Picture: Liam Kidston.

“They would certainly get a more favourable impression of our great city as they pass expensive houses, cruise under the Story Bridge and see the CBD towering ahead of them, and perhaps they may stop at the casino or Southbank for lunch.”

A TransLink spokesman said there was currently no plan to extend public transport services to the terminal, but it continued to monitor potential demand as the area developed.

“Due to the irregular nature of cruise ship terminal operations, regular scheduled bus or ferry services are not an appropriate transport solution to meet this need,” the spokesman said.

He said shuttle buses to and from terminals were commonly operated by individual cruise ship operators to co-ordinate services around specific arrival and departure times.