The residents of the Southern Moreton Bay Islands (SMBI) are consistently disadvantaged by unique transportation challenges not faced by our mainland communities. We are frustrated by the lack of action from all three levels of government, and as a result, we are petitioning for a bridge to Russell Island, the largest island in the SMBI group, or the implementation of capped short-haul barge services to alleviate the pressures resulting from the challenges below.

 

Lack of parking at Weinam Creek:

• The parking on the mainland at Weinam Creek is completely inadequate, with approximately 1,500 spaces within the precinct for an estimated population of the SMBI at around 13,000.
• This parking will be further reduced when the new multi-storey car park is built next year.
• Once this multi-storey carpark has been built, there will be at a minimum of 2,200 spaces, with still no clear indication of how many of those 2,200 spaces will be allocated for permanent parking or how much residents will pay for a permanent space.
• The 2,200 spaces are still grossly inadequate for a growing population estimated at a maximum of 23,000 in the next 30-40 years.

 

Dealing with a singular water transit company:

• SeaLink currently charge residents $132 return to go on the barge, with a trip from Redland Bay to Russell Island estimated at over an hour.
• SeaLink are increasing the prices year on year, and demand for our barges is far outstripping supply.
• The barges are an environmental concern, emitting pollution into the environment and stirring up sediment in our marine park.
  • Short-haul barges or a bridge would greatly reduce these environmental concerns.
• There are no other operators (no competition) because it is nearly impossible for a small operator to pay the exorbitant fees the council and the state impose each year, nearly $300,000 per annum alone on landing fees.
  • Only a conglomerate like SeaLink would be able to afford these.

 

Increase in crime, theft, and damage to vehicles at the marina carparks:

• We are seeing around 2-3 posts per week on our community Facebook groups of cars being vandalised and damaged at our mainland carparks at Weinam Creek.
• Theft and damage include broken windows, fuel being siphoned, as well as wheels being stolen.
• This would be greatly reduced if there were not such an influx of vehicles being parked in one area at a time, especially at night.
• This is not helpful to mainland residents either, as it generates dangerous activity near homes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's not fair that a duplicate bridge to Bribie Island has been promised, which is not needed, or $120 million for a new hospital car park in Townsville, where we've only been promised a mere $15 million over three years. This will not improve the situation once the car park is finished.

 

The only way we can solve the challenges above is to construct a bridge to Russell Island or have governments implement a capped short-haul barge service to significantly reduce parking and crime woes on the mainland. It will perfectly complement the Priority Development Area and provide residents with various transportation options. This will also implement competition with SeaLink.