City leaders push ferry as a congestion-busting alternative to take pressure off roads in 2018

FERRIES are being pushed as a congestion-busting concept to relieve pressure on the Gold Coast’s roads during the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

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FERRIES are being pushed as a congestion-busting concept for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

With the focus on gaining a tram-to-train light rail link at Helensvale by 2018, councillors, MPs and community leaders are all looking at other measures to ease the number of cars on Gold Coast roads.

The Heart of the City Committee has backed the use of ferries between Metricon Stadium and the Broadwater, with stops at Evandale, Surfers Paradise and Southport.

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Committee Chairman Max Christmas said ferries would be a step towards bringing the Gold Coast into line with other major cities with water-based public transport.

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“There have been talks going on for about 18 months with the council including people who worked on the Brisbane CityCats system,” he said.

“A lot of work has gone into this possibility.”

The Bulletin understands negotiations are ongoing with a private operator to launch a service in conjunction with the council’s own efforts to create a water-based public transport.

Under the council’s plans an initial link between Evandale and Surfers Paradise’s Appel Park would be established before the 2018 Commonwealth Games with stops along the Nerang River and the Broadwater later.