BROADIE AWAY WITH FERRIES

Council wants new waterways service to extend to heart of entertainment precinct

GOLD Coast City councillors will today vote for the proposed ferry system to be extended to the heart of Broadbeach and to make parts of the trial free for residents.

Council now wants the twoyear trial to include 14 stops, not 12, and to cover an extra 3km to take more cars off the roads, open up South Stradbroke Island to nonboaties and help bring more workers and tourists into the inner city.

GOLD Coast City councillors will today vote for the proposed ferry system to be extended to the heart of Broadbeach and to make parts of the trial free for residents.

Council now wants the twoyear trial to include 14 stops, not 12, and to cover an extra 3km to take more cars off the roads, open up South Stradbroke Island to non-boaties and help bring more workers and tourists into the inner city.

Under plans to be unveiled to city leaders at council this morning:

• The proposed route will start at Tipplers on South Stradbroke Island and run to the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre at Broadbeach. It will also travel west to Metricon Stadium at Carrara for major events. The other stops are: Couran Cove, Labrador, Wavebreak Island, Doug Jennings Park, SeaWorld, Southport Pier, Mariner's Cove, Main Beach, Cavill Ave and the Home of the Arts at Evandale.

• The system will go to tender in March following a vote by councillors. Ferries are expected to carry passengers from December next year.

• A grand launch will be held similar to last December’s open day for the Gold Coast light rail’s second stage where residents will be offered a free trip. These trips are expected to offered over a number of weekends through the holiday period.

• The council has engaged a specialist maritime consultant to conduct a wash study on sections of the Nerang River and canals where faster speeds will be required.

If the new 14-stop route is approved today, council will then consider hydrological reports and await the State Government’s decision on how the ferries will integrate with the city's existing public transport network.

Mayor Tom Tate said he was confident ferries would be on the water this time next year.

“I am confident more than ever that this will finally be delivered after 20 years of conversation,” he said.

“Everyone knows I have met with the Minister and the public understand we are working hand in glove on this.

“It will help in decongesting traffic from Southport, Main Beach and The Spit and in doing that it will be the best way of utilising our world-renowned waterways.

“Everyone knows that tourism needs further offerings and though this is public transport, I believe tourists will spend the day travelling on the ferry to different stops and go up to The Spit for a barbecue.”

If approved at today’s meeting, a report will go before councillors in March as the final step before tenders are called the same month.

The system has been projected to take more than 3500 cars off the road.

The Bulletin understands several companies from NSW and Victoria have informally expressed an interest in tendering for the project.

The council is hoping to secure cutting-edge solar catamarans that will be able to make the 16km journey in about 40 minutes while travelling at speeds of up to 12 knots.

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

The Gold Coast Bulletin revealed the revived ferry proposal in July. Weeks later it was backed by the Gold Coast Waterways Authority.

Under the plan, the council would provide dock infrastructure, the Department of Transport and Main Roads would integrate its timetables into the city’s public transport network and the waterways authority would oversee the tender and contract.