Robot air taxis, Bay Cat ferries, fast bus and train services and a western diversion for long-distance travel on the Bruce Highway.
These are among the ‘pillars’ of Moreton Bay City Council’s ‘City of Tomorrow’ strategy unveiled at the 2025 Moreton Bay Leaders’ Forum last Friday, which was attended by more than 250 people including 26 local, state and federal MPs.
NEWS COP VIDEO: Mayor Peter Flannery spells out the City of Tomorrow vision
Mayor Peter Flannery says state and federal funding is urgently needed to make that vision a reality as the clock counts down to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and continual population growth.
And he wants state and federal political differences put aside to achieve it.
“With our population predicted to double to one million in the next 30 years, not to mention the 2032 Games fast approaching, we need to deliver critical infrastructure now …” he says.
But council cannot do it alone and needs “its fair share of funding” for critical projects that will allow them to help deliver the 2032 Games, he says.
Click here to read the strategy document
VISION CHALLENGES
“We know the infrastructure our city needs to tackle congestion, unlock housing, provide employment opportunities and go green as we grow but we cannot do this alone,” he says.
Flannery also hit out at both sides of politics for a lack of political will in delivering the funding.
“For too long, funding from successive state and federal governments has not kept up with our population growth, which has continually exceeded projections,” he says.
“We want to take it past political cycles.
“Our unprecedented growth presents enormous opportunities and challenges. Now’s the time, for state and federal governments, to provide an infrastructure plan that integrates with the growth we are experiencing,” Flannery says.
“Doing nothing is not an option.
“A lack of funding for major road and transport projects is hindering our ability to service growth areas and provide much-needed housing.”
He also predicts that congestion will grow to unsustainable levels and says council modelling shows that by 2036 rail boom gates could be down for an hour during peak periods at open level crossings south of Petrie, on the north Brisbane network.
“We have a low percentage of people taking up public transport to the city from across Moreton Bay, like 4%.”
He says the idea of Bay Cats ferries linking residents from Bribie Island down to Redcliffe to Brisbane CBD was one idea for encouraging greater public transport use.
TOP PROJECTS
- Bruce Highway Western Alternative: To connect across the city and divert long-distance travel and freight traffic. Council wants a fast-tracked commitment to deliver it by 2032 (currently estimated for 2041) with funding from the state and federal governments.
- Rapid public transport: Secure planning support, funding and deadlines for east-west public transport and faster connections across South-East Queensland, including a new peak-hour express service on the Redcliffe line from Petrie to Strathpine express to the CBD/Bowen Hills, high-capacity metro from Newport/Scarborough to Kippa-Ring Station (Redcliffe) and from Clontarf/Margate to Kippa-Ring with a rapid bus service from Waraba to Caboolture.
- Caboolture Revitalisation: Commercial investment to provide more job and transport options, more diverse housing stock, safety and amenity improvements, and state-federal funding of a $14m stormwater drainage upgrade.
- Bay Cats: A Moreton Bay ferry service to operate before the 2032 Games with fast travel between key locations such as Redcliffe Pier and Riverside in Brisbane. Council is looking for $500,000 to fund a feasibility and business case investigations and eventually a trial.
- Robot air taxis: Running automated air taxis between locations in the CBD and Redcliffe/Caboolture aerodromes in time for the Games. Advanced Air Mobility company Wisk is proposing the use of a self-flying, electric four-seat VTOL (Vertical Take-Off Landing) air taxi. (More to come this afternoon)
OTHER FORUM NEWS
State government to give $15 million for new Moreton Bay Wildlife Hospital.
Canberra to give $1.5m for more CCTV cameras across the region.
