FOUR new ferry terminals on Redlands Coast will be delivered sooner and at an estimated cost saving of more than $5 million after council agreed to bring forward the projects.
Mayor Karen Williams said council's decision would see the Southern Moreton Bay Islands ferry terminals delivered about 12 months sooner than originally expected, providing local jobs and saving residents money.
"This is an exciting development that will also see more jobs created in the 2020/21 financial year, which is vital following the economic impacts of COVID-19.
"Through this partnership, the Department of Transport and council have found a way to deliver the project sooner and in doing so save ratepayers $2 million, with a total saving of $5 million across the entire project, including state government savings," she said.
The project still included the original design of updating the jetties, gangways and pontoons, and repurposing existing ferry pontoons for recreational uses such as fishing and mooring.
Councillor Mark Edwards said the SMBI community had waited a long time to see the terminals get the significant upgrades they needed.
"We are a city of islands, and the ferry terminals are vital for island residents and highly important to the Redlands Coast economy," he said.
"Council and the state government negotiated patiently over a long period of time for the best outcome possible for the community, and this new development will see that outcome realised sooner."
Redlands MP Kim Richards welcomed council's decision, which would deliver local jobs sooner.
"This means we can get the ferry terminal upgrades finished sooner for all our islands and create more local construction jobs when they're needed most," Ms Richards said.
She said she expected tenders for construction to go out in August, and the announcement would cut about a year off the time it would take to get the work done.
