Sunshine Coast - Ferries

[ozbob]

https://www.noosanorthshoreferries.com.au

Noosa North Shore Car Ferries operate two car ferries 365 days a year from the river end of Moorindil Street, Tewantin and depart approximately every ten minutes.

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast News --> 'Gateway to Teewah Beach' set for an upgrade, and a new operator to take over

The region's only vehicle ferry, which provides the "main gateway" to the iconic Teewah Beach, is set to steer into a new digital era after a recommendation for a new operator.

The cash-only Noosa North Shore Ferry service is the only way for residents, workers and visitors with cars and four-wheel-drives to access the area by road.

Noosa Council operates the services via a commercial service agreement. The current contract commenced in 2009 and is in its final option term, ending on 30 June 2024.

In March this year, the Council called for tenders to operate the ferry service once the current lease expires. It received five submissions for the contract.

New Zealand-based passenger transport Divers Den Investments (DDI) has been recommended as the "preferred operator". ...

[ozbob]

Couriermail Noosa --> Noosa Council confirms NZ takeover of Noosa North Shore ferry $

A New Zealand travel group has won the contract for the North Shore ferry service, following a unanimous backing by Noosa councillors.

The green light at the October 27 meeting follows a staff recommendation to award the 20-year contract to Divers Den Investments Pty Ltd, which is part of New Zealand's Entrada Travel Group.

Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart said the company would build two new ferries, one with a 27-vehicle and the other with a 12-vehicle capacity, which doubled the current service's capacity.

"The 27-vehicle ferry alone will eliminate most of the current vehicle queuing issues and the company has also proposed to work with Greenfleet – a partner in council's Yurol Forest Conservation Project – to offset carbon emissions from the ferries," she said. ...

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast News --> The future of Noosa's only vehicle ferry has been decided for another 20 years

Noosa Council remains firm on its decision regarding vehicle access to popular Noosa North Shore.

It comes after a recommendation to award a new operator for the vehicle ferry between Tewantin and Noosa North Shore was ratified at last Thursday's Ordinary meeting.

The outcome puts to rest any speculation that a traffic bridge would be built connecting the two riverside points for a least two decades. ...

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast News --> New ferries running but queuing continues to be work in progress

Sold as reducing wait times and congestion, a new ferry operation seems yet to live up to those great expectations for users and residents.

Users remain frustrated at long queues for the Noosa North Shore Ferry at peak times – on the low tide on long weekends and holidays.

The ferry queues on the Tewantin side mean residents of Moorindil Street and its side streets struggle to get in and out. ...

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast News --> All aboard: new ferry service could include six or seven trips per day

The Sunshine Coast's first regular ferry service is about to add another dimension to local transport and tourism.

The Mooloolaba Ferry will start operating on the Mooloolah River and the Kawana Waters Canal within weeks.

The service will essentially be run by Coastal Cruises Mooloolaba.

Co-owner and director Darren Smith looked forward to weighing anchor.

"The ferry will provide an eco-friendly and scenic way to explore the river and will connect some of the most popular waterfront destinations in the region, such as the Wharf Mooloolaba, Pier 33 and the Kawana Hotel," he said. ...

[Arnz]

'Lucinda' still in the BCC Ferry livery.  If you want to ride a old vintage ex-BCC Ferry, come up to Mooloolaba for a ride.

[SilverChased]

Nice to hear about these ferry services getting started. I wonder if they could connect to the proposed 'bay cats' in some way?
https://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/News/Media/Bay-Cats-Council-Investigates-Ocean-Ferries-as-Alternative-to-Bruce

Does anyone know anything more up to date about this? I think it would be great for tourists and there is potential to connect some places that are otherwise difficult to get to by road.

[ozbob]

^ > https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?msg=281461

Not directly related but there was a proposal for a fast ferry service from the Brisbane River to North Stradbroke Island  that was  canned days after it started, with operators claiming it was sunk by exorbitant fees from a local council.

Haven't heard anything else.  Over the years I have noticed all types of grand plans for ferries north and south come and go.  One of my ' favourites ' was big hovercrafts     

[SilverChased]

I can see it bring difficult to make a profit from these services. The council would need to chip in to make it viable.
We had some services from Redcliffe recently that didn't last very long.

[SurfRail]

I think the Mooloolaba one will be something more akin to Hopo or the Noosa ferry than something useful as a means of transport - straddles the boundary somewhere between a pleasure cruise and mass transit.  All for it, but it won't exactly be a solution for anything significant.

[Fares_Fair]

I concur.
They say that the second best day of your life is getting a boat.
And the very best day of your life is getting rid of it.

They're sometimes also referred to as a money anchor.

That said it is the most relaxing thing (sea-sickness aside) to cruise on a boat or ferry.
I fondly recall catching the hydrofoil in Sydney many years ago.

I think the Mooloolaba one will be something more akin to Hopo or the Noosa ferry than something useful as a means of transport - straddles the boundary somewhere between a pleasure cruise and mass transit.  All for it, but it won't exactly be a solution for anything significant.

It's purely a commercial venture.

[Stillwater]

Ahh, Port Welshpool (Victoria) to George Town (Tasmania) via fast catamaran ferry. 

Sometimes called the 'chundercat' if bad weather encountered in Bass Strait.

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast News --> New ferry service launches with permission to stop at popular park

The Sunshine Coast's first regular passenger ferry service launches today, with a fourth stop added to the route at late notice.

The 52-passenger Mooloolaba Ferry is expected to bolster tourism and public transport in the region.

It will offer customers a leisurely and picturesque journey along the Mooloolah River and Kawana Waters Canal, with stops at key waterfront destinations. ...

[MagicBullets]

Nice to hear about these ferry services getting started. I wonder if they could connect to the proposed 'bay cats' in some way?
https://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/News/Media/Bay-Cats-Council-Investigates-Ocean-Ferries-as-Alternative-to-Bruce

Does anyone know anything more up to date about this? I think it would be great for tourists and there is potential to connect some places that are otherwise difficult to get to by road.

Moreton Bay is in the early phase of a $250,000 study, I have recommended the idea to extend to the Sunshine Coast.