Quirk sinks free ferry plan for Bulimba

A PETITION for a free ferry service between Bulimba and Teneriffe has been rejected by Brisbane City Council.

Cr Kara Cook’s idea to ease traffic congestion in Bulimba by introducing a free ferry was voted down by the LNP Council.

A PETITION for a free ferry service between Bulimba and Teneriffe has been rejected by Brisbane City Council.

LNP Public and Active Transport Chairman Adrian Schrinner said the council made the CityHopper service free because it was “extremely financially unviable” as commuter public transport.

“The City Hopper is the only free service we provide along the river. This basically was done after 2011 floods to stimulate visitations into the inner city area and economic activity,” he said.

In contrast, the Bulimba to Teneriffe route is popular with about 6800 passengers a week.

“There’s no issue with demand and people are prepared to pay for it,” Cr Schrinner said.

He said a free ferry service would likely divert passengers from paid services and cause a loss of revenue.

He said the council would not support the petition but would forward the request to TransLink to see if it would support a free service and accept such a loss.

Labor Councillor Kara Cook (Morningside) promised she would seek a meeting with Labor Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey about the ferry.

“My biggest concern with (the council’s) response is it seems to miss the point,” Cr Cook said.

She said residents of Bulimba wanted a free cross river service to encourage commuters onto public and active transport and off clogged roads.

“The issue with Bulimba being on a peninsula is actually traffic congestion. So, by encouraging people onto public transport and off the roads, that would actually be a good thing for that area,” she said. “There could be different reasons to introduce free services, it doesn’t always have to be about patronage,” she said.