Developer launches bid to run a Moreton Island barge service from Newport
It has been over a decade since a barge service ran from Redcliffe Peninsula to Moreton Island, but a developer has a new multimillion-dollar plan to bring it back, and construction could start as soon as next year.
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A Redcliffe developer has a bold plan to bring back the much loved barge service from the Peninsula to Moreton Island – but it won’t be running from Scarborough.
The Combie Trader II, which ran from Scarborough, folded in 2008 and residents have been calling for it to be reinstated ever since.
Plans to get it back up and running, along with funds to make it happen, have been floated by State and Federal government candidates for just as long.
This is believed to be partly because of the millions of dollars the operator would have to fork out to dredge and build the barge landing site.
But a new plan from Kindred Group CEO Joshua Kindred who owns the Newport Marina, just up the road from Scarborough harbour, has provided a new chance for the barge to be reinstated.
Mr Kindred purchased the marina in 2016 for $7.5 million. He had initially hoped to build two 10-storey towers on the site.
This plan was downgraded to a six-storey unit complex after community backlash.
The Newport Action Group, who protested against the development, said they would much rather see the site used as marine industry – which is what is was zoned as under the new Moreton Bay Regional Council Planning Scheme.
Mr Kindred then withdrew this application in July.
“We never wanted to do something on this site that was ordinary,” Mr Kindred said.
“It is the largest privately owned land on the waterfront on the Peninsula and the aspiration was always to create something with a generational impact.”
While disappointed at not being able to deliver the original plans Mr Kindred said he was “excited” by this new idea.
“It wasn’t something we considered previously but we can make it fit in with the marina operations really easily,” Mr Kindred said.
“We can’t see any reason that this won’t come together, we have been working on this for about four months.”
Mr Kindred said while it was too early to determine the cost of the project it would cost more than the $4 million on offer from the State Government.
He said he plans to lodge an application with council for approval next month and will also team up with an operator and submit an application through the state government’s expressions of interest in relation to the establishment of the service.
Mr Kindred said unlike the Scarborough site no dredging would be required at the Newport Marina.
“We have overcome that and the majority of complexities at the Scarborough site,” he said.
“The landing site is still an unknown but we are hoping the contribution from the State Government will be less than the $4 million being offered.”
Mr Kindred said he expected to receive council approval before Christmas and hoped to start construction early next year.
The barge service, which is expected to arrive at Bulwer, will operate seven days a week. With one service a day on Monday-Thursday and two on Fridays, Saturday and Sundays.
Mr Kindred said the barge operations would still leave a vacant site the same size as the land Mon Komo sits on.
He said down the track there was still a possibility of building some short-term accommodation options at the site.
There is also the possibility of one of Australia’s largest marine colleges taking some space at the marina.
Mr Kindred, a peninsula local, said he loved the original barge.
“I grew up going on it and have a lot of really fond memories on it. So many people in the community have said they can’t wait to share it with their kids or grandkids,” he said.
“Everybody can’t wait to be able to go from our own back yard.”
