Article: Lord Mayor delivers another CityCat ferry

[ozbob]

http://www.campbellnewman.com.au/articles/lord-mayor-delivers-another-citycat-ferry.html

Lord Mayor delivers another CityCat ferry

Written on the 21st of April 2009

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman has unveiled Brisbane?s 14th CityCat ferry and announced a trial of infrared cameras to spot rowers on the river.

Valued at $3.1 million, the Mahreel ? the indigenous name for Spring Hill ? is the 6th CityCat to be launched by the Cr Newman since his election in 2004. The Lord Mayor will further expand the fleet to 19 by 2012.

Cr Newman said the Mahreel will be part of a three-month trial of infrared cameras to help assist navigation of river traffic.

?These cameras are another set of eyes for our CityCat masters and crews to help them see other vessels, rowers and kayakers using the river, particularly at dawn and on dusk or when there?s fog,? he said.

?We?ve been talking to Rowing Queensland and Maritime Safety Queensland about how to make the river safer for everybody and this is a real step in that direction.?

Cr Newman said the cameras would be trialled on two CityCats and, pending the outcome of the trial, may eventually be rolled out across the entire CityCat fleet.

Mahreel was built at the Bulimba boatyards of Norman R Wright and Sons.

CityCat patronage has experienced an incredible 79 per cent growth over the last four years, with almost five million passengers travelling on CityCats in 2007/08.

There were just eight CityCats on the Brisbane River when the Lord Mayor was first elected in 2004 and that will rise to 19 ? an increase of nearly 140 per cent ? by June 2012.

?Each new CityCat carries at least 400,000 additional passengers a year and increases the number of services we can offer,? Cr Newman said.

?The addition of the Mahreel to the fleet will mean 12 additional weekday services from next Monday (April 27).?

Just days before Anzac Day, the honour of launching the Mahreel fell to State President for the Council of Ex-Servicewomen Carmel Liddelow.

Cr Newman said Mrs Liddelow?s involvement was timely, with public transport services to run free of charge for veterans and their families on Anzac Day, which is this Saturday.

Free travel will be offered on all TransLink services this Saturday for veterans (or those marching on their behalf) wearing their service medals. Accompanying spouses will also be permitted to travel free to or from an Anzac Day ceremony.

[Ends]  April 21, 2009