Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner has today announced Brisbane City Council will expand the city’s river transport network with a new ferry terminal for Brisbane’s newest leisure and lifestyle precinct, Howard Smith Wharves.
Cr Schrinner said the once-abandoned riverfront destination was on the eve of re-opening as a vibrant, world-class public entertainment precinct after a $110 million revitalisation.
“With its river’s edge location, public parkland, hotel, dining and bars, Howard Smith Wharves is the ideal location for the city’s next ferry terminal,” Cr Schrinner said.
“Council is committed to delivering Australia’s most modern public and active transport, and our world-class CityCat transport network is just one of the ways that we’re getting people home quicker and safer with more travel options.
“With regular events planned at Howard Smith Wharves’ exhibition centre, as well as the restaurants, bars and public parkland expected to attract large crowds, the terminal will provide convenient public transport to the site.”
The terminal would be the first expansion to the river network since 2015, and would add to the 25 existing stops from University of Queensland at St Lucia to Northshore Hamilton, including the city’s major residential and lifestyle locations.
Howard Smith Wharves Consortium Chief Executive Officer Luke Fraser welcomed the terminal announcement as a great addition to the vibrant Howard Smith Wharves precinct.
“With our unique position beneath the Story Bridge, there will be no better way to get to Howard Smith Wharves than on the river, which is at the heart of the city’s transformation into a New World City,” Mr Fraser said.
The Howard Smith Wharves consortium will contribute $3 million toward the $12 million terminal, which is expected to open in 2020.
Cr Schrinner also confirmed that Brisbane’s next CityCat would be a double-decker SuperCat.
“Council is proud to provide world-class public transport along the Brisbane River, with our modern fleet of CityCats getting people home quicker and safer,” Cr Schrinner said.
“London is famous for its double-decker buses, what better way to see Brisbane than from our double-decker SuperCat.
“The $3.7 million SuperCat design was chosen following a competitive tender process and will offer some of the best views of Brisbane, between St Lucia and Hamilton Northshore,”.
