Scarborough Barge To Moreton Sailing Ahead

A re-elected Palaszczuk Government will spend $4 million to deliver a barge landing site at Scarborough Boat Harbour, pending a positive business case outcome.

Member for Redcliffe Yvette D'Ath said Labor had already committed $400,000 to complete the business case by the end of December.

The business case will consider a range of technical and associated issues, such as the potential for the barge ramp to be located outside the harbour boundary and inside the Moreton Bay Marine Park.

In September, a passenger-only ferry service started operating from the Redcliffe Jetty to Moreton Island, which was welcome news for locals and visitors alike,� she said.

However, there's no doubt that many more still fondly remember the Combi Trader, and would love a local option for getting their car over to Moreton.�

National Parks Minister and Labor candidate for Murrumba Steven Miles, said the Newman-Nicholls Government released a tender in 2014 for a barge service from Moreton Island, without a landing site on the mainland.

The successful tenderer never secured a suitable site to launch from, so that tender lapsed,� he said.

A re-elected Palaszczuk Government will combine the two proposals a barge service to Moreton Island, and a launching site in the Scarborough area,� he said.

Mr Miles said the tender would be jointly-managed by the Department of Transport and Main Roads and the Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing.

Labor�candidate for Bancroft Chris Whiting�said that the 'Moreton Bay Region Industry & Tourism' (MBRIT) report projects that visitor numbers in the region will be 3.6 million by 2019.

Our natural environment is a key drawcard to the region, and Moreton Island is a jewel in the crown anything we can do to increase access to it is great news for jobs and the local economy,� he said.

Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Allan Sutherland welcomed today's funding announcement to bring the Moreton Island Barge back to Redcliffe.

Everywhere I go, people ask me when will we see the Moreton Island barge back in Redcliffe, and I'm absolutely ecstatic to say with today's announcement we are definitely one step closer to seeing a landing site re-established at Scarborough,� Mayor Sutherland said.