OODGEROO MP Mark Robinson hopes North Stradbroke Island could reap tourism benefits from a planned barge service to Moreton Island.
The state government last year sought expressions of interest from operators interested in setting up a passenger and vehicle service to the island, promising to pump $4 million into infrastructure to get the project off the ground.
A Moreton Island barge already operates out of Port of Brisbane but a new barge would likely run from the Redcliffe Peninsula, providing another option for residents and tourists.
The Combie Trader II barge - which ran from Scarborough - ceased operation in 2008, leaving behind the MICAT service as the last link to the island for walk-on passengers.
Mr Robinson said a new service bringing visitors to Moreton Bay would provide an additional benefit if it had tourism flow-on effects for Straddie.
It comes as he calls on the state government to ensure there are enough Redlands transport options to maximise bay island tourism ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
"I think the Redlands will have a very important role to play and I'd support any local operators who wants to look at new routes," he said.
Mr Robinson said the MICAT barge out of Brisbane was popular with Redlanders travelling to Moreton but prospective operators could also look at the benefits of a local terminal.
"Tourism, and specifically eco-tourism, was touted by the Palaszczuk government as Straddie's saviour," He said.
"However, local Labor MPs seem to be happy to sit on their hands and close their eyes to potential opportunities for the Redlands, and creating jobs and services for its residents."
Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the government had received interest in the barge project, but the number of submissions would remain confidential during the procurement process.
Transport and Main Roads would begin technical investigations, which could include looking at a vessel traffic management plan and barge trial.
"The timeframe for this next stage of the process will depend on the complexity of issues raised during these investigations," Mr Bailey said.
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