Ferry proposed for Broadwater Parklands and The Spit set to help reduce traffic congestion

A FERRY service between Broadwater Parklands and The Spit has been proposed. The water shuttle is part of a wider plan to keep the Southport area moving.

A ferry service between The Broadwater and The Spit has been proposed to help reduce traffic congestion.

A FERRY service has been proposed between Broadwater Parklands and The Spit to help reduce growing traffic congestion in the area.

The Gold Coast Waterways Authority (GCWA) is open to the proposal, which would include a water shuttle operating regularly from the pier at the Broadwater Parklands.

The proposed ferry service was unveiled yesterday as part of the Gold Coast CBD Program 2025, a wideranging plan to revitalise and encourage businesses to the CBD and reduce traffic congestion.

A wideranging plan to revitalise the Gold Coast CBD has been put out to public consultation.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate is pushing for the water shuttle from the CBD.

“I continue to lobby for this, as it’s a great addition to our transport network, especially for major events like we have happening today (GC600),” Cr Tate said.

Any water shuttle needs approval from the GCWA.

The Mayor said the GCWA had previously said no to a ferry service.

But GCWA CEO Hal Morris said he was not aware of the ferry proposal.

“We would consider looking at it with interest,” Mr Morris said.

“It’s certainly not something we would automatically dismiss.”

A ferry service between The Broadwater and The Spit has been proposed to help reduce traffic congestion. Picture: Tourism and Events Queensland

The more than 100-page CBD program was released yesterday for public consultation and outlines future plans for the Gold Coast.

The plans include finding ways to reduce traffic congestion, attract businesses and consolidate facilities already in the CBD, including improving pedestrian access to the Broadwater Parkland, establishing and consolidating industry precincts and establishing public Wi-Fi.

Southport committee chairman John Howe said transport and reducing traffic congestion was the key to the future of the CBD.

The Gold Coast City Council's plans for the Southport CBD and Broadwater Parklands to help revitalise the suburb. Picture: Supplied

“We only have three roads through the Gold Coast and they are clogged,” Mr Howe said.

“The future is going to have to be based on these transport systems and around them.”

Mr Howe said in the past 12 months businesses started moving back to the Gold Coast from Brisbane to prevent being stuck in traffic.

“As we connect (the light rail) to Helensvale and go further south it’s going to be interesting to watch from the change of use,” he said.

Mr Howe said the CBD plan had helped shape how people were going to move around the CBD area.

GOLD COAST CBD PROGRAM 2025

• Will build a ferry service from the Broadwater Parklands to The Spit
• Establishes public Wi-Fi
• Creates better pedestrian access from the CBD to the Parklands, including between Southport tram station and the parklands
• Reduce traffic congestion
• Improve building facades
• Attract businesses to the Gold Coast