Howard Smith Wharves to Stradbroke Island trip to take 40 minutes on ‘game changer’ ferry

A trip from the heart of the Brisbane CBD to this island paradise will take just 40 minutes on a new ferry service being tipped as a “game changer” for tourism in southeast Queensland. Find out when the first stage is expected to be completed.

A trip from Howard Smith Wharves to Stradbroke Island will take just 40 minutes on a new ferry service being tipped as a “game changer” for tourism in southeast Queensland.

The government will splash $5.5 million building three new pontoons at Howard Smith Wharves in the city, with an estimated 64,000 domestic visitors expected to use the terminal every year.

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Tourism Minister Kate Jones has touted the project as an “absolute game changer”, saying “river to bay” tourism would be crucial for the region in the coming years.

“This new river terminal will mean you can have a drink or something to eat at a restaurant, jump on a boat and be relaxing on an island within 40 minutes,” she said.

“We’re forging on with major projects like this because we know that new infrastructure is vital to Queensland’s economic recovery.”

When international borders begin to reopen, the government estimates the facility could attract as many as 294,000 overseas visitors every year.

The first pontoon is expected to be opened before the end of the year, with Ms Jones describing the new service as the “missing link” in connecting Brisbane to the bay.

Local McConnel MP Grace Grace said the pontoon – which is forecast to create 23 jobs in operation and seven in construction – is expected to support up to 6000 passengers per day.

“These new pontoons will be open to commercial tour operators as a pick-up and drop off point and will have the potential added benefit of through traffic for the Howard Smith Wharves and Eagle Street restaurant and entertainment precincts,” she said.

Queensland Minister for Tourism Kate Jones. (AAP Image/Jono Searle

“Accessibility to Moreton Bay from the Brisbane River has always been a limiting factor for tourist operators.

“So this project will be the catalyst to open two way traffic flow and commercial tourist operators have already expressed great interest to access this popular new facility.”

Howard Smith Wharves chief executive Luke Fraser said the pontoons would be a catalyst to creating more jobs.

“With an exciting pipeline of investment from critical infrastructure through to significant tourism projects, the new commercial pontoons will only further enhance our river city appeal,” he said.

Originally published as Howard Smith Wharves to Stradbroke Island trip to take 40 minutes on ‘game changer’ ferry