Ferries pass the Tate test

GOLD Coast Mayor Tom Tate is “more enthusiastic than ever” about the Coast’s planned ferry system after test driving a vessel in Sydney.

Cr Tate was aboard a catamaran being put through its paces in a 45-minute trip from Darling Harbour under the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the Opera House yesterday.

The vessel, built two years ago and operated by Captain Cook Cruises, can carry up to 60 passengers, with seats for 36.

It can travel up to 21 knots, though vessels using the Coast’s 12-stop system during the two-year trial will not travel this fast.

The system is expected to be put out to tender before Christmas, with the Gold Coast City Council planning to launch its service by December 2019.

Cr Tate said an essential element of any successful tender was that the vessels could not create any adverse wake while moving through the Broadwater and Nerang River.

“It was like two knives cutting through butter,” he said.

Unlike Brisbane’s 22-yearold CityCat designs, newer ferries have the potential to travel faster but create significantly less wash, lessening the potential for causing damage to revetment walls

The State Government this month gave the green light to a ferry service after a meeting between Cr Tate and Transport Minister Mark Bailey.

Cutting-edge solar catamarans will be able to make the 13km journey from Labrador to Surfers Paradise in just 36 minutes under plans being considered, which would see the ferries permitted to travel at speeds of 12 knots or above.

Council says the system will take more than 3500 cars off the city’s congested roads.