The five-week closure of the Bulimba ferry terminal has drawn complaints from commuters and local business owners, with reports of replacement shuttle buses not showing up and extra cars flooding streets. The terminal, one of the busiest in the network with more than 1100 passengers boarding daily, was closed for maintenance on Monday and is due to reopen in mid-December.
Bulimba resident Margaret Hall said she arrived at the terminal about 7.20–7.25am on Monday and waited for a shuttle to Hawthorne that was supposed to run every 10 minutes. She gave up about 7.50am and caught the 231 bus, arriving 20 minutes late for work. “It’s a schemozzle,” she said. “That’s been, really, how it’s been all week.”
Peter Aitcheson, from homewares store Perfect Living on Oxford Street, said his shop suffered a 40 per cent sales dip on days when CityCat workers went on strike and that the extended closure just before Christmas was likely to have a similar effect. “No time is going to be a good time, really, but we know that February, March, April is quieter for us,” he said. “They probably could have done it at the end of the school holidays, maybe after mid-January onwards.”
Anne Wood, from Anne’s Second Hand Shop, said Oxford Street businesses relied heavily on foot traffic from CityCat users. After the strikes, she called the weeks-long closure a “double whammy” for small business.
The alternative options provided by council include using the Hawthorne ferry terminal, catching the F21 cross-river service between Hawthorne and Teneriffe, route 232 or route 23 shuttle for a connection to the Hawthorne ferry, or route 230 to catch a bus into the city. Hall reported that shuttle buses did not show up, and Hawthorne residents complained of extra cars flooding their streets, including some parked over driveways.
Councillor Andrew Wines said essential maintenance on the terminal gangway could not be done safely while it was in use. “We’re grateful for everyone’s patience and look forward to reopening the terminal later this year,” he said. The council sent a community newsletter about the upcoming closure, installed signs at terminals and on ferries, and said officers would be at Bulimba and Hawthorne ferry terminals this week to provide information about alternative options.
The council said other periods were considered but the final dates were selected due to contractor availability, and ferries were much busier during the school holidays. It said the route 23 shuttle was operating as scheduled, while it enforced parking through proactive patrols and in response to complaints, and was investigating concerns around the Hawthorne ferry terminal.
Morningside councillor Lucy Collier claimed the LNP council had a poor track record on ferry maintenance and had not provided reliable replacement services. “The Lord Mayor has spent much time in recent weeks pushing booze on CityCats and buses on barges but has failed on basic forward planning for one of the city’s busiest ferry terminals,” she said.
The Bulimba terminal last had a major upgrade in 2014. The next terminal in line for maintenance is Apollo Road, with work due to start at the end of November and finish in early 2027. It will remain open while the Bulimba terminal is closed.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- More than 1100 daily passengers face disruption for five weeks before Christmas, a key trading period for local businesses.
- Reports of missing replacement services and extra traffic in Hawthorne indicate the council's contingency plan may be inadequate.
- The closure highlights ongoing maintenance needs on Brisbane's ferry network and potential gaps in forward planning.
Background
The Bulimba ferry terminal is one of the busiest in Brisbane's CityCat network. It last had a major upgrade in 2014. The council says the current closure is needed for essential maintenance on the gangway that could not be done safely while in use. The terminal is due to reopen in mid-December.
Key Perspectives
Commuters (Margaret Hall): described the situation as "a schemozzle", with shuttle buses not showing up as scheduled and her commute taking 20 minutes longer.
Business owners (Peter Aitcheson, Anne Wood): said the closure and earlier strikes caused significant sales drops, with Aitcheson noting a 40 per cent dip on strike days and both calling for better consultation and timing.
Councillor Andrew Wines (council): said the maintenance could not be performed safely while the gangway was in use and thanked residents for patience.
Morningside councillor Lucy Collier (Labor): claimed the LNP council had a poor record on ferry maintenance and had failed to provide reliable replacement services.
What to Watch
- Whether the council addresses reports that the route 23 shuttle is not running as scheduled.
- The outcome of the investigation into parking concerns at the Hawthorne ferry terminal.
- Whether the Apollo Road terminal closure starting late November proceeds without similar disruption.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe five-week Bulimba terminal closure is frustrating commuters and business owners.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Commuters and business owners are voicing their frustrations over the five-week closure of the Bulimba ferry terminal”
- SupportedCommuters reported replacement shuttle buses not showing up, and Aitcheson said the closure was likely to have a similar effect on sales to strike days.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “with complaints of replacement buses not showing up”
- SupportedMore than 1,100 passengers board at Bulimba each day, making it one of the busiest terminals in the network.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “More than 1100 passengers board at Bulimba ferry terminal each day, making it one of the busiest in the network”
- SupportedThe terminal closed for maintenance on Monday and is due to reopen in mid-December.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “it was shuttered for maintenance on Monday, and due to reopen in mid-December.”
- SupportedMargaret Hall said, “It’s a schemozzle,” and, “That’s been, really, how it’s been all week.”Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““It’s a schemozzle,” she said. “That’s been, really, how it’s been all week.”
- SupportedHall waited for a shuttle to Hawthorne, gave up at about 7.50am, caught the 231 bus and arrived 20 minutes late for work.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Eventually, about 7.50am, she gave up and caught the 231 bus, arriving 20 minutes’ late for work.”
- SupportedAitcheson said his shop’s sales fell 40 per cent on CityCat strike days and the closure was likely to have a similar effect.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “He said his shop suffered a 40 per cent sales dip on days when CityCat workers went on strike – and the extended closure of the terminal just before Christmas was likely to have a similar effect.”
- SupportedAitcheson said February, March and April were quieter for his business and suggested the work could have happened after mid-January.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““No time is going to be a good time, really, but we know that February, March, April is quieter for us,” he said. “They probably could have done it at the end of the school holidays, maybe after mid-January onwards.””
- SupportedAnne Wood said Oxford Street businesses relied heavily on CityCat users’ foot traffic and called the closure after the strikes a “double whammy” for small business.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Anne Wood said Oxford Street businesses relied heavily on foot traffic from CityCat users. Wood said after the strikes, the weeks-long closure of the terminal was a “double whammy” for small business.”
- SupportedCouncillor Andrew Wines said the gangway maintenance could not be done safely while the terminal was in use.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Councillor Andrew Wines said essential maintenance on the terminal gangway could not be done safely while it was in use.”
- SupportedThe council said the route 23 shuttle was operating as scheduled and that it was enforcing parking and investigating concerns around Hawthorne terminal.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “It said the route 23 shuttle was operating as scheduled, while the council enforced parking through proactive patrols and in response to complaints, and was investigating concerns around the Hawthorne ferry terminal.”
- SupportedMorningside councillor Lucy Collier said the LNP council had a poor ferry-maintenance record and had not provided reliable replacement services.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Morningside councillor Lucy Collier claimed the LNP council had a poor track record on ferry maintenance, and had not provided reliable replacement services.”