Two Brisbane ferry terminals closer to reality after contract awarded

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Brisbane City Council has awarded a $25 million contract to a single supplier to build a ferry terminal at Howard Smith Wharves and upgrade the South Bank ferry terminal.

The contract came before council on Tuesday with an amendment to give priority to local fabrication when evaluating the bids as part of council's efforts to support local business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The new South Bank terminal will replace the existing dual-berth pontoon.Brisbane City Council

The South Bank ferry terminal upgrade will combine all ferry services, including CityCats and the smaller monohulled ferries, into one terminal covering the existing two berths.

The Howard Smith Wharves terminal, co-funded with HSW Nominees and the Fantauzzo group, with a $3 million contribution, will allow for dual berthing of CityCats and have the ability to berth monohulls.

Fitzgerald Construction Australia won the tender to build both terminals at a cost of more than $25 million.

Council heard Fitzgerald put forward offers with different construction methods. The winning bid proposed fabrication at Brisbane and Ipswich.

Off-site fabrication for Howard Smith Wharves will begin this year and on-site construction in early 2021. Work on the South Bank terminal will begin in mid to late 2021.

Council noted that opting for a local bid would reduce the risk of supply-chain interruptions or problems further down the line.

The state government also recently announced a plan to install three pontoons at Howard Smith Wharves, developing a partnership for direct ferry trips from there to Stradbroke Island.