It has been a year since the suspension of the CityHopper services in Brisbane, and Kangaroo Point locals have renewed calls for the resumption of the ferries at the Dockside.
In a statement, members of the Bring Back Our Ferries Community Group said that they have asked Brisbane City Council “for an interim solution” to let the new KittyCat services use the Dockside wharf so Kangaroo Point locals could still have access to the ferry network.
However, residents were informed that the modern vessels are not compatible with the height of the old wharf thus the KittyCat ferries would not be able to dock at the Kangaroo Point terminal. The locals said they were not consulted about the Dockside’s closure.
Highlights
- The Dockside in Kangaroo Point has been suspended since July 2020 as the CityHopper services were replaced with modern KittyCat vessels.
- Bring Back Our Ferries Community Group wants Brisbane City Council to resume services.
- Council has undertaken a Ferry Network community engagement for feedback on the improvement of the ferry network.
In the meantime, Council provided residents with Shuttle 27, free shuttle service on Main Street and Scott Street. Council also said that there are plans to refurbish and upgrade three inner-city terminals, including Dockside, within a three-year time frame.
But the group does not agree with the three-year wait as small modifications to the Dockside, done in a short period and with little cost, could make the terminal suitable for the modern ferries.
The group launched a petition to bring back the ferries. Nearly 400 have signed the petition so far.
“Dockside was a very heavily used stop and the only one I can walk to because of mobility issues,” said Jane Layton, who started the petition. “We have seen no works happening at the Dockside Ferry stop & have been given no timeline for the completion of these works.”
They presented the petition to Councillor Ryan Murphy last 26 July 2021 during the Community Meeting on Public Transport.
Meanwhile, Council has opened a Ferry Network community engagement in July. Additional drop-in sessions will also open in September at the Brisbane Square Library, Bulimba Library, East Brisbane Croquet Club, Northshore Hamilton Ferry Terminal, New Farm Library, Toowong Library, Regatta Ferry Terminal, and Kurilpa Hall for locals to share their opinions and suggestions about the ferry services. Visit the Council’s site for more details.
