FAQs

The Southern Moreton Bay Islands Ferry Terminals Upgrade Project will deliver new ferry terminals at Russell, Macleay, Lamb, and Karragarra Islands. This project will also include repurposing the existing ferry pontoons and jetties for recreational use such as fishing and mooring.

The ferry terminals on Russell, Macleay, Lamb and Karragarra Island are essential island transport infrastructure. 

The upgrade is required for the passenger ferry terminals on SMBI to meet the legislated requirements set in the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002. 

The passenger ferry terminals will also be upgraded to improve waiting, boarding and disembarking functionality and capacity for customers at all four terminals while also enabling the existing pontoon and jetty to be repurposed for recreational use. 

Cardno is the project's principal consulting design engineering firm, while Architectus will deliver architectural and layout design input.

In April 2021, the project entered the construction phase following the awarding of stage one of the construction contract. Pre-site fabrication works will commence at the contractor’s factory following the procurement of the required materials.

The project team will inform the community once the full program of works is known.

The new ferry terminals are planned to be delivered by mid-2023. 

Below is the proposed construction phase timeline, subject to project constraints:

2021-2023: Russell Island, Macleay Island, Lamb Island, and Karragarra Island.

All existing SMBI ferry terminals will be upgraded, this includes Russell Island, Macleay Island, Lamb Island, and Karragarra Island.

To find out more about public transport, or to plan your journey, please visit translink.com.au, download the MyTransLink app, or call 13 12 30.

The project budget has now increased to $44.6 million due to an escalation in construction costs and some changes to the project scope.

Redland City Council has been consulting with island communities and other key stakeholders since 2016 to understand how they use the terminals, what they like and do not like about them, and what the upgraded terminals should do and how they should look. 

In 2016, Council collected feedback through surveys, meetings, and the project’s Your Say webpage. Several themes were identified that informed the designs, including:

• Improved weather protection, particularly from wind and rain.
• Repurposing existing pontoons to accommodate recreational use.
• Wider walkways to accommodate passengers with mobility issues, prams, trolleys, and the elderly.
• Larger pontoons to accommodate future passenger growth. 
• Improved safety and a more modern design of terminals, walkways, and pontoons.

Later in 2017, and following an in-depth stakeholder review, our designers began working on the initial concepts to ensure they align with the island communities’ expectations and technical requirements.

The valuable feedback gathered throughout these stages has informed the development of the concept designs.

The project team has also provided an update to the Department of Transport and Main Roads’ Accessibility Reference Group and will continue consultation as the project develops.

In August 2019, the project team went back to the community and presented the initial concept designs for a 6-week consultation period. The feedback obtained from August to October 2019 was incorporated where possible in the preliminary designs. 

In November 2019, the preliminary designs were presented to the community at a series of open house events on the islands and mainland. Feedback was sought on the designs and the terminals’ colour palette.

A summary of the project’s consultation phase can be viewed on the project’s main page under Fact Sheets & Flyers.

In November 2019, open house events were held at the following locations:

• Victoria Point Shopping Centre
• Russell Island Recreation Hall
• Macleay Island Community Centre Hall
• Lamb Island Community Hall 
• Karragarra Island Sun Smart Foreshore Playground

The gangways and jetties will be 2.7 metres wide in between the handrails to allow for passenger passing and queuing, as well as movement for mobility scooters, wheelchairs, prams, and ambulance trolleys. 

The current walkway widths are approximately 1.4 metres wide.

The project team, comprising Council and the Department of Transport and Main Roads, has been consulting with Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) since the project’s inception in 2014. 

In 2020, the project team consulted with QYAC to design Quandamooka artwork and on the indigenous names of the Southern Moreton Bay Islands. In conjunction with QYAC, Aunty Sandra Delaney provided the team with cultural knowledge of the islands through the creation of a storyboard and project artwork and advised of the spelling of the islands’ indigenous names. The project team has incorporated dual-naming of the islands and Quandamooka artwork in the final designs.

The designs, artwork and indigenous storyboards are available for viewing on the project page. 

The designs will provide improvement to privacy concerns, including a dedicated ambulance waiting area to allow for patient privacy. 

The gangways and jetties will be 2.7 metres wide in between the handrails to allow ambulance trolleys to pass the passenger queue.

The gangways and jetties will have screening along one side for the entire length to protect passengers from prevailing winds and rain events. The pontoons will also have screening to protect passengers from the weather.

Lighting will be improved along the gangways, jetties, and on the pontoons to allow for passenger security and visibility.

Provision for future installation of wireless access points has be allowed for in the final design and will be considered as future works for Redland City Council.

Water and power outlets will be provided on the terminals. These will be vandal-proof and for maintenance purposes only.

The terminals, including the pontoons, gangways, and jetties will have video surveillance (CCTV). Provisions for emergency calling points have been made and emergency phones are being considered.

Maintenance and cleaning of the terminal facilities is the responsibility of the asset owner.

The trolley cart will not be retained at the new terminal as it was subject to vandalism activity over the years.

The pontoon waiting areas will seat approximately 40 passengers (dual berth) and 25 passengers (single berth) with adequate circulation space and additional covered waiting areas on the landside.

The terminal pontoon berthing orientations have been positioned to increase the operating efficiencies, reduce conflicting berthing movements and improve navigational safety.

The Russell and Macleay Island ferry terminals have dual berthing arrangements, while Lamb and Karragarra Islands have a single berthing arrangement. The pontoon arrangements were selected based on the current and expected population growth at each of the islands.

Directional and wayfinding signage is incorporated in the final design. The signage around the terminal will be consistent with the Translink style guide.

All existing murals, including Karragarra Island's heritage rail cart, will be retained. 

The existing mosaic mounted on Russell Island's ferry terminal will be temporarily removed and later relocated to the seaward-facing location on the new waiting area.

The new terminals will incorporate design measures that will reduce and hinder climbing of the structures.

No. Netted swimming enclosures are not included in the scope of the project. The ideal place for swimming is clear of the ferry terminals and recreational facilities.

The new terminals will incorporate firefighting measures and equipment that will be approved by the Queensland Fire and Rescue Authority.

The new terminals will meet the full requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, as well as the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (DSAPT), which falls under the Act.

The repurposed facilities will allow recreational boats to be moored. The mooring duration is subject to local laws, and, in Redland City Council, this is 20 minutes at all sites unless signed otherwise.

The repurposed facilities will enable fishing activities to take place at the pontoon and along the gangway.

The repurposed facilities’ primary purpose is for recreational mooring and fishing. Jumping from the pontoon and climbing the structures is not permitted.

No. The ideal place for swimming is clear of the ferry terminals and recreational facilities. Signage and modifications to the structures will take place to reduce incidents.

Once the new terminals are built and commissioned, the useful parts of the old ferry pontoons and gangways will be relocated and ownership transferred to Maritime Safety Queensland and repurposed as recreational boating and fishing assets. 

As part of this repurposing work, new pontoons and piles will be required as the useful life of the current facilities is limited to only 5 to 10 years, without substantial and more expensive repair work. 

The gangways are all in good condition and will be reused, while the old pontoons and piles will become the construction contractor’s responsibility to dispose of.

The repurposed facilities will have a vandal-proof water tap and general power outlet for maintenance purposes only.

The repurposed recreational facilities will not be used as public transport infrastructure and, as such, are not required to meet the Disability Standards of Accessibility Public Transport 2002 under all tidal scenarios. 

The recreational facilities will, however, achieve some degree of compliance under certain high tide scenarios. During extreme low tide events, assistance may be required to cross the gangway that links the ferry terminal jetty to the recreational pontoon.

The existing lighting will be retained, and new lighting will be provided to ensure adequate illumination of the terminal for navigational safety.

Redland City Council is planning upgrade works to the Russell Island ferry terminal carpark. This carpark upgrade work is planned to commence at the conclusion of Russell Island’s ferry terminal upgrade.

Macleay Island will receive new covered waiting areas with minor modifications to the drop-off area to accommodate ambulance service. This work is to be delivered concurrently with Macleay Island’s ferry terminal upgrade. 

Minor works are planned for the Lamb Island carpark, including drop-off zone parking areas and signage. This work is to be delivered concurrently with Lamb Island’s ferry terminal upgrade.

Council is planning to review the Karragarra Island foreshore master plan in future years to plan for potential upgrades and formalise carparking.

As part of the project, new toilet facilities will be built closer to Russell and Macleay Islands' ferry terminals.

The project’s landside works include like-for-like landscaping replacements in the vicinity of each island.

Redland City Council is aware of the potential conflict between pedestrians and vehicles at Russell Island. 

As part of the carpark upgrade works, Council will be planning for improvements to the drop-off zone, bus stop, and barge queuing areas.

No. There is no provision for future commercial operations at the ferry terminals.

Redland City Council will consider installing CCTV as part of the carpark upgrade works. CCTV will be installed at the new ferry terminals.

Yes. The project team has identified certain trees located either on land or in the tidal-zone adjacent to the existing Russell, Macleay, Lamb, and Karragarra Island ferry terminals will need to be removed to proceed with the construction and upgrade of these islands’ ferry terminals. 

The project team has made every effort to avoid impacting nearby vegetation, including trees. However, the design of the new ferry terminals cannot be amended any further. The trees to be removed are in areas that intersect with the construction of the ferry terminals and its amenities and will ultimately be replaced by sheltered waiting areas, providing passengers with better protection from the weather.

To see which trees are planned for removal, please refer to the 'Tree and Historical Structures Removal/Relocation Guide' available on the project page.

• Russell Island ferry terminal: Two trees to be removed from this site. The trees are located in the inter-tidal zone and have been identified as coastal she-oak (Casuarina equisetifolia) trees. The project team has applied for a Marine Plant Disturbance Permit through the Queensland State Government to remove this species

• Macleay Island ferry terminal: Four trees to be removed from this site. The trees were planted by Council as part of the car park upgrade and have been identified as tuckaroo (Cupaniopsis anacardioides) and broad-leaved paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervia) trees. Two tuckaroo and two broad-leaved paperbark trees are to be removed

• Lamb Island ferry terminal: Two trees to be removed from this site. The trees were planted by Council and have been identified as adult and juvenile northern grey ironbark (Eucalyptus siderophloia) trees

• Karragarra Island ferry terminal: Three trees to be removed from this site. The trees were planted by Council and have been identified as cottonwood (Hibiscus tiliaceus) and date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) trees. Two cottonwood and one date palm trees are to be removed

The project team confirms that none of the aforementioned tree species are koala habitat trees.

Council will offset any trees removed with like-for-like replacements in the vicinity. Landscape enhancement plantings are considered for all sites where space allows.

To see which historic or memorial structures are planned for temporary removal and relocation, please refer to the ‘Tree and Historic Structures Removal/Relocation Guide’ available on the project page. 

Below is a list of the structures planned for temporary removal or relocation:

Russell Island ferry terminal 

• Monument rock located near the existing ferry terminal to be removed, and relocated, post-construction
• Mosaic to be removed and stored. Mosaic to be relocated post-construction to the seaward-facing location on the new waiting area

Macleay Island ferry terminal

• Memorial stone located on the foreshore to remain in place and be protected during construction of the ferry terminal
• Planter boxes to be removed, and relocated, post-construction
• Turtle artwork panel to be removed, and relocated, post-construction

Lamb Island ferry terminal

• Seating bench located in front of the existing waiting shelter to be removed and stored. Bench to be reinstalled, post-construction

Karragarra Island ferry terminal

• Post box to be removed, and relocated, post-construction
• Heritage rail cart to be removed and stored. Cart to be relocated, post-construction
• Planter boxes to be removed, and reused, post-construction
• Monument to be removed, and relocated, post-construction

The construction of all four ferry terminals at Russell, Macleay, Lamb and Karragarra Islands is planned for completion in mid-2023, weather and construction conditions permitting.

• Russell Island: Onsite works commenced at Russell Island in mid-October 2021.
• Macleay Island: Onsite works commenced at Macleay Island in late-February 2022.
• Lamb and Karragarra Islands: Onsite works are planned to commence at Lamb and Karragarra Islands in late-2022.

Works are being staged across more than one island at a time to achieve the project completion timeframe.

The construction of the four ferry terminals, which includes Council’s landside works, is likely to be delivered simultaneously to reach the expected completion timeframe of mid-2023.

• Changes to the Russell Island ferry terminal pedestrian access zone. Pedestrians will be redirected to the temporary footpath leading to the temporary ferry access gangway.
• Changed drop-off zone and parking arrangements, with temporary closures of some parking bays during construction.
• Changed traffic movements.
• Temporary fencing will be installed and a lay-down area will be established.
• Temporary relocation of the shelters to be closer to the temporary ferry access gangway.
• Noise and vibration during piling works.
• Stairs leading down to the water from the existing pontoon will be removed and reassembled once relocated to the temporary location.
• Demolition of the existing jetty and ferry terminal.

• Presence of construction personnel, including traffic controllers, surveyors and service investigators.
• Changed traffic conditions in the Macleay Island ferry terminal carpark.
• Establishment of ferry terminal work zone.
• Pedestrian detour.
• Bus zone temporary relocation. 
• Piling works - noise and vibration.

The Macleay Island scope of works includes a new floating walkway at the public boat ramp. The impacts for recreational boaties during the installation works are considered minimal and short disruptions can be expected. Please observe the construction and road works signage and follow the directions on the traffic control crews when approaching the work zone. 

Transition for use of the temporary ferry access gangway will occur from the first scheduled service on Sunday 21 November 2021.

This arrangement will remain in place until the new ferry terminal is complete and open for public use, currently planned for late 2022, weather permitting.

The SMBI ferry services will remain operational during construction, with the exception of the transition period to the temporary ferry access gangway at Russell Island. 

From Sunday 21 November 2021, due to space and construction limitations at the Russell Island site, commuters travelling to and from the island are required to access a nearby temporary ferry access gangway during the construction period.

Commuters travelling to and from Macleay, Lamb, and Karragarra Islands will continue to board and alight ferries at the existing terminals until the construction of the new ferry terminals is complete.

Stage one of the contract was awarded in April 2021 to Sunshine Coast-based contractor The Jetty Specialist. 

Significant fit-out work for the ferry terminal pontoons will be carried out at Redlands Coast business Aluminium Marine located at Thornlands.

The project team has determined the best way forward is to award the project’s construction contract in two stages. 

Due to the scale of the project in delivering four new ferry terminals, splitting the contract into two stages will allow the contractor to start procurement of the necessary materials and fabrication of the major ferry terminal components; such as the large aluminium pontoons, steel piles, and the precast concrete elements for the fixed jetties.

The remaining onsite construction of the ferry terminals and all the landside works will be combined into stage two. 

The project team is working with the contractor to Value Engineer some aspects of the design and architectural elements of the facilities to ensure the cost of the works remains within the project budget. 

Value Engineering is a method the project team and contractor are undertaking to improve the value of the project by examining the function of each item/element and its associated cost.

By assessing the Value Engineering items against agreed criteria the team can make suggestions for alternate construction methods, minor design changes, and different materials that will improve the value of the project without sacrificing functionality.

The Value Engineering work is currently progressing to identify and prioritise cost savings to ensure the project stays within the budget. 

The scope of works for stage one of the contract includes:

• Commencement of long lead-in, marine works activities such as pontoon and precast concrete fabrication (e.g. headstocks and deck slabs), and procurement of piles.
• Fit-out and installation of the pontoons and installing pontoon piles.
• Supply of the temporary landing components for Russell Island.
• Design and construction of the repurposed existing ferry pontoons into recreational boating and fishing facilities.
• Supply of components for a new floating walkway for the Macleay Island boat ramp.

Stage two of the contract comprises all landside works (e.g. raising land levels, waiting shelters, two amenities blocks, seating and other furniture and new walkways) and the coordinated marine construction works (e.g. fixed jetties, gangways).

Stage two of the contract was awarded in December 2021 to Sunshine Coast-based contractor The Jetty Specialist.

As the Department of Transport and Main Roads is leading the project’s construction phase, please contact the team at boatinginfrastructure@msq.qld.gov.au