The first of four ferry terminal upgrades has been opened at Russell Island.
The upgrade comes after years of planning, community consultation and at times, challenging construction.
The Southern Moreton Bay Islands ferry terminals upgrade project is a jointly funded $48.6 million project, with the Queensland Government contributing $31.5m and Redland City Council contributing $17.1m.
Mayor Karen Williams said the opening marked a momentous achievement in the largest infrastructure investment yet brought to the islands.
“The biggest of the four islands’ ferry terminals, the Russell Island ferry terminal, is representative of the entire project,” she said.
“The modern design provides safety improvements for ferry customers and recreational boaties.”
Ferry customers now benefit from a larger, accessible pontoon and waiting areas.
Additionally, Russell Island’s dual berthing pontoon has allowed Translink’s passenger ferries to use the outer berth (anticlockwise) towards Lamb Island, and the inner berth (clockwise) towards the Redland Bay marina.
“This will assist with managing the passenger ferry timetable, now and into the future,” Cr Williams said.
Redlands MP Kim Richards said she was proud to be part of a government that delivered city-shaping.
“Locals and visitors to the island can now use the dedicated recreational boating pontoon for fishing and mooring, keeping in mind that the commercial and recreational users are now separated – the ferry terminal pontoon is only for use by the ferries,” she said.
Improvements to all terminals will include larger waiting areas with more seating, improved weather protection, wider gangways and enhanced circulation spaces, new amenities blocks (Russell and Macleay islands only) and new landside shelters, security cameras to improve passenger safety, larger pontoons to accommodate growth, lighting control systems, digital timetable information and Quandamooka artwork.
Further milestones include the operational switchover for ferry passengers to use the new Macleay Island terminal with upcoming milestones in June to include the pontoon float-outs for Karragarra and Lamb islands.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the project was a great example of collaboration between the state and local governments working to deliver vital infrastructure.
“I am pleased to say the design life of the new infrastructure is 50 years which will provide ongoing benefits for the bay islands well into the future,” he said.
There are no changes to Translink’s ferry timetable with services operating at Russell Island as usual.
