PETITIONERS have called for a cable ferry between Russell Island and Woongoolba after the state government turned down their request for a bridge.
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Runcorn resident Ian Olsson, who heads up the Russell Island Development Association (formerly the Russell Island Bridge Lobby), said that funding for the cable ferry could be sought from the federal government's infrastructure fund as Russell Island had a remote area status.
In response to two petitions with a total of 777 signatures submitted by Mr Olsson, Transport Minister Mark Bailey said that he had previously suggested that the Russell Island toll bridge could be progressed through a market-led proposal but no such proposal had been made to the government.
"The Department of Transport and Main Roads does not consider the current or projected patronage to warrant the extensive cost that a lengthy bridge would incur," Mr Bailey said.
The cable ferry petition states that Redland Bay will never have enough long-term car parks for the Southern Moreton Bay Island residents who use the passenger ferries from Weinam Creek.
"With no market-led proposal bridge solution, other alternatives must now be put in place so that costly band-aid solutions to parking at Redland Bay are not ventured into," the petition said.
The petition called on the state government to support the development of a vehicle cable ferry link between Rocky Point, Russell Island and Little Rocky Point North, Woongoolba on Pimpama Island.
"This involves construction of two kilometres of approach causeway mainly over land and two 50 metre long cable ferry ramps that are 600 metres apart between which a cable ferry would cross Main Channel," the petition said.
The bridge petition states that the increasing bay island population was putting pressure on parking at Redland Bay.
"Car parking is planned to include a 1500 car capacity multi-level car park at Weinam Creek and at Moore's farm," the petition said.
The petition said Moore's farm was unsuitable for parking and far from the ferry. The multi-level park would not be suitable as islanders could not be expected to pay premium parking fees because they needed to park for a long time.
The bridge or cable barge would enable Russell Island residents to park at home and avoid the cost of the multi-level car park.
"The cable ferry is a cheap option and one that is much less in cost than the controversial 1500 car space multi-level car park planned for completion in 2022 at Redland Bay," Mr Olsson said.
The cable ferry petition is at parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/petition-details?id=3161.
