State stumps up $15m to solve Redland council’s terminal parking problem at Weinam Creek marina

The state government has moved to halt to a bitter wrangle with Redland City Council and stumped up $15 million to build a multi-level carpark at the Weinam Creek ferry terminal.

Parking nightmare: The Redland Bay ferry terminal, which was given $15 million for a multistorey carpark. Picture: Judith Kerr

The state government has extended an “olive branch” to Redland City Council and offered to pay $15 million to overhaul parking congestion at one of Queensland’s largest passenger ferry terminals.

Redland Bay’s Weinam Creek ferry terminal was at the forefront of a bitter wrangle between council and the government this month after the council secretly inked a memorandum of understanding to overhaul the ferry terminal.

But less than a week after Jos Mitchell was elected the new mayor, the state has moved to end the bitter wrangle over who would pay for any upgrade and whether the new multi-level carpark would be free of charge.

Residents of the four bay islands, who must park their cars at the terminal every time they catch a ferry home, have been promised a multi-level carpark since 2014.

But the plans to build the facility fell over after the Walker Group decided not to proceed with developing the site for the council.

This month, the council announced it had a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding, for an undisclosed amount, with construction giant Consolidated Properties Group.

Thousands of people use the Weinam Creek ferry terminal at Redland Bay each week. Picture: Judith Kerr

Ms Mitchell welcomed the funding announcement and said she hoped it signalled an end to the bitter feud with the government.

“The Weinam Creek development is an important opportunity to meet long-term needs of the southern Moreton Bay islands,” she said.

“This funding greatly assists the progression of that outcome and I’m looking forward to working further with the state government as this project progresses.

“I am wanting to work collaboratively with state and to that end I have been working to develop those relationships. I wanted to hit the ground running and we are.”

Along with the multi-level carpark, it was expected the development would include a Coles shopping centre, cafe and waterfront park.

The Weinam Creek ferry terminal is used by thousands of commuters each week. Picture: Redland City Council

Transport Minister Bart Mellish said the money would ensure delivery of the carpark and greater certainty to those who lived on Macleay, Lamb, Karragarra and Russell islands.

“This government knows the economic importance and employment opportunities that the Weinam Creek Priority Development Area offers Redland and southeast Queensland,” he said.

Redlands MP Kim Richards said the funding would add to services already in the Weinam Creek precinct and hoped it would end the bickering.

An artist’s impression of the multistorey carpark to be built at Weinam Creek. Picture: Redland City Council

“This funding builds on our commitment to the Redlands where we’ve delivered four new ferry terminals for our southern Moreton Bay islands, a new Kitty Cat ambulance ferry and our new satellite hospital,” she said.

“This funding will provide confidence that we are supporting Redland City Council to deliver key infrastructure for locals and visitors to our islands and revitalise our waterfront.”

Redland City Council was contacted for comment.

Originally published as State stumps up $15m to solve Redland council’s terminal parking problem at Weinam Creek marina