Gold Coast ferry service: All aboard by Christmas as council backs trial

Ferries will soon take to the water on the Gold Coast after a decision taken at council today provided a huge boost to the project.

THE Gold Coast will have a ferry service being trialled before Christmas after councillors today backed funding to improve some of the waterway access points.

Councillors at a closed session today viewed the results of an expression of interest evaluation which recommended SW Cruise Co Pty Ltd deliver the two-year trial.

The transport and infrastructure committee later backed a $1 million spend on delivering the necessary disability access and facilities needed at ferry stops.

HOW LONG FERRIES WILL TAKE TO TRAVEL ROUTE

How the ferry stop at HOTA is expected to look.

COMMUNITY GROUPS BACK FERRY SYSTEM PROPOSAL

Councillors at the meeting also approved $500,000 in operational funding in 2019-20 for “necessary management activities” along with community consultation. Another $500,000 is allocated for the following 12 months.

The current report on the trial remains confidential but parts are to be released, and a further report will be provided for the committee.

Outside the council chamber, Mayor Tom Tate was buoyant about the prospects for one of his pet projects.

“Lock the date in – December,” he said, when asked about the start of the trial.

He said the EOI was closed and it had led to a “very good result” for council.

“I’m very confident the trial will begin before December so we get the Christmas trade. Our attitude is the quality that has been selected, and the five locations (for docking stations) are the highest density,” he said.

FERRY SERVICE TO COST RATEPAYERS AT LEAST $1M

Mayor Tom Tate - lock in the date. Picture:Glenn Hampson.

MORE NEWS

Prominent Gold Coasters in list of nation’s 200 richest people

Plans for sky bridge to Pacific Fair

Diet that made Thor the God of Thunder

“I think it will be popular among locals and tourists alike. As the trial gets going we will look at modifying the speed, if we can do it quicker it’s better for everybody but safety is first.”

He said the Coast-based company running the ferry trial would use public terminals.

“I now want to accelerate the ferry terminal at HOTA,” Cr Tate said.

He cautioned that council would not be subsidising the service but working with the State Government to upgrade infrastructure with a 50-50 split on a jetty at Doug Jennings Park.

“If you look at 10 years from now I can see this is be another mode of transport that people will get to and from work like catching a bus. Kids going to school,” Cr Tate said.

“I can see Runaway Bay people will have a ferry service — they need to get to Southport, why drive.”

SUBSCRIPTION OFFER: GET FULL DIGITAL ACCESS + JABRA WIRELESS HEADPHONES

The ferry service will run to The Spit. Picture: AAP

An earlier council report predicted the ferry service patronage would be 400 to 700 passengers daily. With proper marketing, it could reach between 1000 to 1800.

Speed limits in the Broadwater and on the Nerang River would be unchanged.

Council officers recommend five stops: Sea World, Southport Pier, Marina Mirage, Appel Park at Surfers Paradise and HOTA.