Council completes upgrade to Russell Island car park

Redland City Council has completed a $1.98 million upgrade to the Russell Island car park adjacent to the new ferry terminal.

Mayor Karen Williams said the refurbishment added an extra 64 car park bays and included a number of safety improvements for both motorists and pedestrians.

“Council is committed to ensuring our remote Southern Moreton Bay Island communities are provided with safe and accessible transport to and from the mainland and this includes access to parking close to the ferry terminals,” Cr Williams said.

“The car park on Russell Island is now significantly larger after Council acquired adjacent properties and it will provide a markedly improved experience for users.

“This includes safety features such as a more efficient traffic flow, dedicated zones for taxis and emergency vehicles and a dedicated bus drop-off zone.

“There are also eight accessible parking spaces close to the terminal, eight motorcycle parking bays and compact bicycle racks.

“This project, together with Council’s $17.1 million towards the SMBI Ferry Terminals Upgrade project, aims to improve commuting to and from Russell Island.”

Division 5 Councillor Mark Edwards said the upgrade would be welcomed by commuters on the island.

“The improvements in the car park will make it easier for residents to connect with mainland services,” Cr Edwards said.

“One of the new features is a commuter drop-off zone that allows vehicles to pull up and safely let out passengers.

“This zone also allows about seven vehicles to queue for up to five minutes while waiting for ferry passengers to disembark, meaning these vehicles do not need to use a car park bay.

“The car park also includes improved safety features for pedestrians through raised pathways, line marking and pedestrian crossings, and new landscaping with wildlife-friendly LED lighting.”

The upgrade was completed in three stages to reduce impact to the community and prevent loss of parking during construction.

The $1.98 million car park upgrade is funded by Council and proudly supported by the Queensland Government with $650,536 through the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme.