Lamb, Karragarra, Macleay and Russell islands will become part of the state government Translink public transport system as of July 1, subsidised by an annual $88 levy on bay island ratepayers.
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Redland City Council ratified a deal with the state government to extend the service to the bay islands on a trial basis at a special meeting this afternoon.
The deal, which allows bay island residents to travel on local ferries using a gocard, comes after more than seven months of high-level negotiations between Redland mayor Karen Williams and Transport Minister Scott Emerson.
Under the gocard deal, an adult will pay $6.55 to get from Russell Island to Weinam Creek, compared with the current $8.80 one-way ferry fare.
Children, students and seniors will pay $3.28, compared with the current one-way concession fare of $4.40.
In off-peak times, between 9am and 3pm and on weekends, the one-way fare to Weinam Creek will drop to $5.24.
A trip from Russell Island into Brisbane city on a 250 bus will cost $10.53 compared with the current $18.40 fare.
It will cost $8.43 for off-peak travel into Brisbane, which equates to a 20 per cent discount on the full fare.
Gocard ticket holders will also benefit from Translink’s free ride deal after nine journeys and all intra-island trips will be free.
Under the deal, the state government will pay $500,000 to install the gocard swipe machines and card reading equipment for ferry passengers.
In return, Redland City Council will subsidise ferry operator Bay Island Transport for the lower fare returns by charging southern bay island rate payers $88 on their annual rates bill for 2013-14.
Cr Williams said she had negotiated the best deal possible for all Redland ratepayers and said she knew it would benefit island residents.
“For this very small investment, residents will get not just savings on travel costs but better employment opportunities and access to facilities and services on the mainland or other islands,” Cr Williams said.
“Based on 2013 fares, the annual savings on a variety of travel options for SMBI residents will potentially range from over $200 for a single student to up to $6000 for a family of four.
“The extension of gocard for travel to and from the islands is long overdue and deserved recognition that island residents should be able to access the same public transport concessions as the rest of South-East Queensland.”
Division 2 councillor Craig Ogilvie, whose electorate extends to North Stradbroke Island, was the only councillor to oppose the deal.
“I can't understand why southern bay islanders have to pay for a service that mainlanders get for free," he said.
"I don't know why we are paying for state government responsibilities and I can't believe SMBI has been prioritised over Straddie.
"We've put in submission after submission arguing the case for Straddie and we've been ignored again.”
Public transport lobbyist Robert Dow, from Rail Back on Track, said extending Translink services to the bay islands was an “excellent move” that had been long overdue.
“Bay island residents will soon have all the benefits of integrated ticketing, which include travelling for free after nine journeys,” Mr Dow said.
“Residents can expect considerable savings in fares under the Translink system but it’s a little difficult to determine how much until we know what zoning the islands will be.”
Translink said the islands would have their own zone, which was not an extension of zone 7, which included Redland Bay.
Redlands MP Peter Dowling said he was "delighted" with the deal.
"It is the best thing that will ever happen for residents on the SMBIs!" he said in a press release.
The gocard service will be tested for two-and-a-half years on the islands, which are home to nearly 7000 people, from 1 July 2013 until January 2016.
An estimated 100,000 SMBI passenger ferry trips are taken each month, including 1750 return trips a day.
In addition, there are a total of 10,000 bus trips through Weinam Creek each month using Translink.
Assistant Public Transport Minister Steve Minnikin said gocard equipment and technology will be installed for Bay Island Ferries passengers.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? Is Redlands MP Peter Dowling right that this is "the best deal EVER" for the southern Moreton Bay island residents?
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