Transport committee recommends council reject investment into a new ferry terminal

Residents of one of Brisbane’s fastest-growing suburbs have issued an urgent plea for new transport options as government projections show the population is set to surge by 30,000.

Government projections state an additional 20,000 people living in the 4101 postcode over the next 15 years.

INVESTMENT in a new ferry terminal to help manage a rapidly growing inner city suburb will be considered by Brisbane City Council next week.

More than 700 residents have signed a petition calling on the council to include a new high-frequency public transport hub — most likely river based — to service West End, one of the city’s fastest growing suburbs.

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A future ferry terminal at Victoria Street was proposed in the South Brisbane Riverside Neighbourhood Plan from 2011, though no investment has been forthcoming.

Councillor Jonathan Sri, whose ward includes West End, has been pushing for some time to get this project back on the table, though the council’s priorities appear to be elsewhere.

The council’s transport committee today made a recommendation that the council turn down the petition’s request at next week’s meeting.

Calls for a new Citycat terminal at West End. Photo: Peter Wallis

Transport committee chair Cr Ryan Murphy, Chandler Ward, said he felt the West End peninsula 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.

The council has already committed to building two new “green bridges” that would service West End, one at Toowong, the other at St Lucia.

The exact location of these bridges was not yet known.

Cr Sri though said more was needed, pointing to government projections of an additional 30,000 people living in the 4101 postcode over the next 15 years.

Greens councillor Jonathan Sri is pushing for a new ferry terminal in his Gabba Ward. Photo: Glenn Hunt / The Australian

“That one small postcode is about to have the population increase of entire state electorate,” he said.

“Transport infrastructure is not keeping pace with the rapid growth and development in the area.

“It’s simply not sustainable for everyone to be driving as their main mode of transport.

“Already, the major roads in the south side are heavily congested with both local residents and workers and visitors form other parts of the city.

“We can’t put this off,” he said at today’s committee meeting. “We can’t keep delaying this decision.”

Of the 712 people who signed the petition, 221 lived in West End, 87 lived in other suburbs of the City of Brisbane, eight lived outside the city and the remaining 396 did not provide an address.