New ferry contract to pave the way for cashless payments and larger vessels

Cashless payment options and larger vessels are among changes in store for Council’s Noosa North Shore ferry service with the awarding of a new service contract, ratified last night. 

Council has awarded a new contract for the Noosa North Shore vehicle ferry service.

Councillors on Monday unanimously backed a staff recommendation to award a 20-year contract to preferred tenderer - Divers Den Investments Pty Ltd (Entrada Travel Group) - starting in July 2024.

Mayor Clare Stewart said Entrada Travel Group – New Zealand’s largest passenger transport company – has a strong track record in ferry operations.

“The company operates two vehicle ferries and a passenger ferry at three locations in New Zealand, as well as the Daintree River vehicle ferry for Douglas Shire Council here in Queensland,” she said.

“The company’s tender provides for the introduction of cashless payment options – which our community has been calling for – plus a significant uptick in the number of vehicles to be transported at any one time.

“The company will build two new ferries, one with a capacity of 27 vehicles and another that can carry 12 vehicles, almost doubling the capacity of the current service.”

The Mayor said Entrada had significant business interests in Queensland and had submitted the best tender based on the assessment criteria.

“The 27-vehicle ferry alone will eliminate most of the current vehicle queuing issues and the company has also proposed to work with Greenfleet – a partner in Council’s Yurol Forest Conservation Project – to offset carbon emissions from the ferries.”

Council will also be able to work with the ferry operator to explore the use of emerging propulsion technologies.

The Mayor said Council was also looking at road improvements at the Moorindil Street approach to the ferry to further assist in reducing queuing, which will help mitigate the impact on residents in surrounding streets.

The winning tender was one of five submitted from three companies.

The existing operator will continue to run the ferry service until the new contract begins in July 2024.

“The current operator has served our community well for over two decades, which we thank them for, and will continue to provide a quality service for the reminder of the contract,” Mayor Stewart said.