Golf buggy push on Coochie roads

More than 400 island residents, out of the total population of about 700, signed a petition in November asking Redland City Council to drop the speed limit as a first step to allowing electric cars, such as golf buggies, to use the island's roads.

At a Redland City Council committee meeting earlier this month, officers recommended dropping the limit but said it was not council's jurisdiction to register electric cars.

Electric vehicles, such as golf buggies, must be registered with Queensland Transport before they can legally use the island's 5.3km of sealed road.

President of Coochiemudlo Island Progress Association Russell Jackson said registered electric golf buggies were an environmentally-friendly solution to refuelling cars on the island and promoting tourism.

"There is no service station on the island, so residents bring jerry cans of petrol over on the barge," Mr Jackson said.

"Allowing electric cars on the road will also help aged people get around the island safely and, we believe, will be a bit of a tourist attraction.

"Because the island is so small, there is really no need to go any faster than what an electric buggy can do, which is about 20km/h.

"But we decided to knock the limit back from 50 to 40 so there is not a huge speed difference between cars and buggies."

The island, which is about 5sq km, has 11.8km of public streets, none of which have 1000 vehicles a day.

Mr Jackson said his group would write to Transport Minister Scott Emerson to put forward the case for electric cars on the island's roads.

If this month's full council meeting approves the proposed 40km/h limit, Redland will spend about $600 erecting speed limit signs on the island.