Construction delays have delayed the opening of two new tourist pontoons at Howard Smith Wharves.
Initially slated for completion by March, the pontoons, designed to service North Stradbroke Island and Moreton Bay, are not expected to be operational until at least June next year. This setback means the pontoons will miss the highly anticipated opening of Queen’s Wharf this month.
Adding to the delays, a new $2.2 million pontoon and jetty at Dunwich on North Stradbroke Island is also behind schedule, casting doubt on its readiness for the September school holidays. This marks a five-year wait for replacing the island’s ageing jetty.
Under questioning during last week’s budget estimates, Tourism Innovation and Sport Director-General Andrew Hopper attributed the Brisbane pontoon delays to design changes and bureaucratic hurdles. The project, funded with a $5.5 million tourism grant, will eventually accommodate commercial tour operators and the public.
Commercial operators like River to Bay already use a temporary pontoon at Howard Smith Wharves, but due to high landing fees imposed by Redland City Council, the latter has reduced services. The company’s river-to-bay brewery tours, launched in February, have faced challenges.
The new Dunwich jetty will be a docking point for Brisbane-bound boats and a fishing pier. Its cost has ballooned from an initial estimate of $750,000 to $2.2 million.
Howard Smith Wharves chief executive Luke Fraser envisions the pontoons as a critical component of the precinct’s transformation into a world-class tourism hub. However, local operator John Groom, who launched a similar river-to-bay venture in 2018, expressed concerns about the potential for unfair advantage for larger operators through government funding. Groom highlighted the lack of support for smaller businesses in the sector.
The delays and questions surrounding the pontoon projects have introduced uncertainty to the future of Fortitude Valley’s waterfront ambitions.
Published Date 08-August-2024
