Redlands Coast’s Southern Moreton Bay Island (SMBI) communities will benefit from more than $4 million in major transport infrastructure spending in the 2021-22 Redland City Council budget.

Mayor Karen Williams said the allocations were headlined by further significant investment in the SMBI ferry terminal project, with $2.8 million allocated to the Macleay Island ferry terminal.

“Another almost $1.4 million will go towards works at the Macleay, Russell, Lamb and Karragarra island commuter interchanges as part of our program to make it easier for residents and visitors to commute and travel to and from the islands,” Cr Williams said.

Division 5 Councillor Mark Edwards said $2 million had also been allocated to green sealing island roads, which would bring the total spend on green sealing island roads to more than $17 million since 2014.

“Priority will be given to areas that currently have high maintenance costs,” Cr Edwards said.

“On Macleay Island, 24km of sealing has been completed with the remaining 11km of unsealed roads expected to be sealed in the next few years, depending on budget.

“There is still 45km to be done on Russell Island, which has a larger network of roads than the rest of the Southern Moreton Bay Islands combined, with 25km completed so far.

“Green sealing work is close to being completed on both Lamb and Karragarra islands, with almost 60km done across the four islands.

“Along with the massive ferry terminal project, we see these road improvements as vital to the islands’ futures.”

Other major island spends include $718,000 for Russell Island’s Rocky Point seawall, $198,000 for drainage works at Lamb Island’s tennis courts and $29,000 for the Bay Islands Memorial Garden on Russell Island.

Fire mitigation on the Southern Moreton Bay Islands will account for another $590,000, with $197,000 set aside for work on North Stradbroke Island, including prescribed burns, construction of fire access trails and fuel reduction works.

More than $375,000 has also been allocated from the new Environment and Coastal Management Separate Charge for shoreline erosion management at Amity Point, on North Stradbroke Island, including beach nourishment and further research into issues identified in the Amity Point Shoreline Erosion Management Plan.

Council will also conduct a foreshore survey on Coochiemudlo Island to monitor changes over time as recommended by the island’s Shoreline Erosion Management Plan.

Visit our website at redland.qld.gov.au/budget for more budget information.