Ferry keen: firms line up for trial

TWO of the biggest transport operators are not kidding around with the Gold Coast City Council’s bold ferry plan.

Transdev yesterday contacted the council about the proposed two-year ferry trial.

While SeaLink chief operating officer Anthony Hayes said the company was excited about the prospect.

Mayor Tom Tate announced in the Bulletin yesterday the council, along with assistance from the state government, would trial ferries on Gold Coast waterways.

He said the plan would include 12 stops along a 13km service from Labrador to Surfers Paradise.

Mr Hayes said he had read the story and that SeaLink was excited about the opportunity to provide that service.

His company has 77 vessels and provides the ferry services Yesterday’s Gold Coast Bulletin

for Stradbroke Island, Magnetic Island, Gladstone, Fraser Island and other locations outside of Queensland.

“We would certainly be very open-minded and want to understand what the mayor is looking for and what the council is hoping to achieve,” Mr Hayes said.

“We are looking forward to seeing some paper work to know what they want to deliver.”

Transdev, which operates Brisbane CityCat and Sydney’s Harbour City Ferries, is also interested.

“We commend the City of Gold Coast and the Queens- land Government on the positive momentum to make ferries on the Gold Coast a reality,” Chief officer train and ferry operations Martin Kearney said.

“Transdev would welcome the opportunity to show how our local and international experience can deliver an affordable world class ferry service, that gets Gold Coasters off the road and out on the water.

“Ferries are not only clean and green, they offer a tremendous customer experience and are a widely popular form of public transport with locals and tourists,

“Jumping aboard the Transdev operated City Hopper or CityCat ferry services are the second and third most popular things to do in Brisbane according to the online travel site Trip Advisor. Similarly, catching the Transdev operated Manly ferry is ranked number 5 in Sydney.”