Ferry plan wins fans

GOLD Coast community groups have expressed broad support for a plan to build a 12stop ferry service across the city.

The Gold Coast Bulletin revealed on Saturday that Mayor Tom Tate’s plans for the service, which has been 15 years in the making.

It will be considered by the Gold Coast Waterways Authority board on August 20.

But the project already has support from groups such as the Gold Coast Environment Council (GECKO) and the Young Professionals Gold Coast.

GECKO founder Lois Levy said a ferry would be a “great idea”.

“A solar one would be even better, because it is more sustainable,” she said.

“The big issues with it will be speed and the potential for erosion around revetment walls, but it would certainly be nice for tourists.”

Cr Tate said ferries would take up to 3200 cars off Coast roads and would be ‘like light rail on water’.

Cr Tate expects to take the system to market by Christmas in the hopes of the first ferries casting off in mid-2019.

A two-year trial would be operated as a joint project between a number of parties including the Gold Coast City Council, waterways authority, Department of Transport and Main Roads, Marine Safety Queensland and various private consortiums.

Young Professionals’ Martin Garred said the proposal was “a good step forward”.

“It is great for the city in terms of tourism and opening up places with greater access,” he said.

The overall cost of the system is not known at this stage and will depend on the proposals brought forward by private operators during the tender process.

The cost to the council is expected to be around $350,000 in ongoing subsidies, as well as around $200,000 for two new docks at Doug Jennings Park and the southern side of Wavebreak Island.

The ferries would otherwise dock at existing council infrastructure.