Gold Coast ferry service unveiled by Mayor Tom Tate to run in Broadwater to Metricon Stadium
A GOLD Coast ferry system will become a reality next year, with solar powered vessels to service 12 stops across the Gold Coast’s waterways. SEE THE VIDEO AND FULL LIST OF FERRY TERMINALS
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MAYOR Tom Tate wants to launch a ferry system next year which will use solar-power catamarans to travel across the Gold Coast’s waterways.
A 12-stop service has been developed by the Gold Coast City Council which would operate in the Broadwater and Nerang River and would have the potential to take 3200 cars off roads each day.
Mayor Tom Tate will present the plan to the Gold Coast Waterways Authority at its next meeting before taking it to councillors to secure their support.
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Cr Tate expects to take the system to market by Christmas in the hopes of the first ferries casting off in mid-2019.
“It is time to better use our waterways and a ferry service is really required for our city,” he said.
“There are many benefits and we estimate it would take 3200 cars off the road daily but at the same time it is another tourism offering and I can see people hopping on and going around enjoying the waterways the same way they enjoy the beach.
“We have to do it Gold Coast style — we want the latest cat technology with the minimum amount of wash.”
Cr Tate is proposing a two-year trial which would be operated as a joint project between the council, waterways authority, Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), Marine Safety Queensland and private consortiums.
Under the plan council would provide dock infrastructure, TMR would integrate its timetables into the city’s existing public transport network and the waterways Authority would oversee the tender and contract.
The mayor said the issue of speed limits would be dealt with during negotiations with the other stakeholders.
FERRY PROPOSED FOR BROADWATER PARKLANDS
The overall cost of the system is unknown and will depend on the proposals brought forward by private operators during the tender process.
The cost to council, expected to be around $350,000 in ongoing subsidies as well as around $200,000 for two new docks at Doug Jennings Park and the southern side of Wavebreak Island.
The ferries would otherwise dock at existing council infrastructure.
Stage one of the service would run between Evandale and Labrador, with stops at Cavill Ave, Sundale Bridge, Main Beach, Mariner’s Cove, Sea World and the Southport Pier.
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The second stage, anticipated to be run by a private consortium, would run north from Charis Seafood to Couran Cove and Tipplers while the third stage would run along the Nerang River from Cavill Ave in Surfers Paradise to Metricon Stadium, stopping at Isle of Capri’s Via Roma shopping centre.
This service would only operate on AFL game days or on special events such as concerts being held at the stadium.
Waterways authority chief executive Hal Morris confirmed he had held discussions with Cr Tate about the plan and was taking a ‘positive and constructive view’ of the process.
“Certainly we are keen to partner with the council and look forward to the meeting with the mayor on August 20,” he said.
“There are ideas he has shared to be and are and we are a river city so you would think there is a role for transport there.
“There are a lot of questions which need to be worked through but we are taking a positive and constructive view of the process.”
The Gold Coast Bulletin last month revealed planning was underway for a jetty at The Spit which would be used as part of a future ferry system.
It is understood several consortiums have express interest in working on the system.
Asked about transport options as part of the Gold Coast Bulletin’s Golden Age campaign, readers gave a firm tick for more use of the city’s waterways.
Nearly 70 per cent of respondents supported a ferry service from Surfers Paradise to Paradise Point.
Of the potential for a short-hop service to Wavebreak Island, which can only be accessed by boaties, 55 per cent of those surveyed said they would take advantage of a ferry trip.
FLASHBACK: COAST’S 15 YEAR FERRY JOURNEY
Mid-2003: A Maroochydore-based company moots a high-speed ferry linking Brisbane with the Gold and Sunshine coasts. It won the support of Queensland Tourism.
Late-2003: A $10 million ferry system across the Gold Coast was proposed in the wake of a “doomsday” transport report commissioned by the State Government which warned that state-run roads would face total gridlock by 2008. It would have run across 13km stopping at Marina Mirage, the former Sundale Shopping Centre, Jupiters Casino and Appel Park.
2004: Ron Clarke is elected Gold Coast mayor and announces support for a solar powered ferry system.
2005: Cr Clarke named the ferry as one of the top priorities for 2005, with city finance boss Rob Molhoek using his budget speech to predict the ferry would be well-established by 2015.
2006: Three companies responded to an expression of interest issued by the council in early 2006 — Bel-Air Golden Ferries, Gold Coast Ferries and Solar Coast Cats. Council signed a deal with Solar Cats in December that year.
2007: Paradise Point residents led opposition a ferry system, warning there would be a lack of parking as the council moved towards a December start date for the system. Solar Sailors Holdings, a company chaired by former prime minister Bob Hawke, was named as the successful tender to be its operator.
2008: The ferry service project stalled after the Bligh Government refused to vary the speed limit on the Gold Coast waterways to allow the ferries to operate. Cr Clarke and leading mayoral candidates at that year’s election, including Tom Tate and Rob Molhoek, back a ferry as necessary for the city’s future.
2009: Cr Clarke pushed to revive the ferry project, with a small-stake high-speed link to South Stradbroke Island. He later threw his support behind a ‘super waterway highway’ which would open up the canals to become a major transport thoroughfare as part of moves to revive the city’s economy after the global financial crisis.
2010: Cr Clarke hoped to take the ferry system to tender that year in the hopes of launching it by Christmas, however it again failed to progress.
2011: City leaders again discussed funding the system and agreed to run a 12-month trial at a cost of $600,000. However, councillors baulked at the cost and the project was finally sunk.
2012: Tom Tate is elected Mayor and the Heart of the City Committee backs a $64 million ferry system.
2013: Cr Tate announced plans to go to tender for a ferry service to operate during the Commonwealth Games
2014: The Newman Government announced plans to review speed limits on the Broadwater to allow a ferry to move forward.
2015: The council includes a proposed ferry terminal in its unveiled redevelopment of the Evandale precinct.
2016: Cr Tate announces a $1 million ferry service as part of his successful re-election bid.
2017: Integrated resort developer ASF says it would back a ferry service to The Spit and included a terminal in its planned development, which was later terminated by the State Government.
2018: Council unveils its proposed three-stage ferry service.
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