Request for Council to Invest in Southern Moreton Bay Islands Short Haul Barge Services

Principal Petitioner: Tom Carpenter

Closing Date: 13 August 2024

At 10 signatures, this petition will be considered properly made.

Petition Request:

Residents push for Council to invest in short haul barge services for the Southern Moreton Bay Islands, particularly for a service from the mainland to Russell Island return. 

For context, Port Macquarie Hastings Council have successfully achieved this, working with a private operator. It is currently 1 hour and 15 minutes from Redland Bay to Russell Island. This could be narrowed down to 20 minutes and would take massive demand of the parking at Weinam Creek, complementing the Priority Development Area and opening up new opportunities. An investment could involve building new infrastructure including barge ramps at the Southern End of Redland Bay and Rocky Point Park for the shortest feasible distance. An investment could also be incentivising private operators to run the service.

Petition Outcome:

This petition was presented by Cr Shane Rendalls at the General Meeting held on Wednesday 21 August 2024. The matter was defined as operational in nature and referred to the Chief Executive Officer for consideration. 

Council investigated the petition request and provided a response to the Principal Petitioner on 4 March 2025 as follows:

Operating a barge service is not a Council service. Passenger and vehicles ferries are operated by commercial operators based on their business planning and identified need for service. Operators may establish new services based on commercial considerations. The role of Council is to provide infrastructure which supports community activities and commercial services.