Redland City’s Ferry Fee Folly: How Coochiemudlo Island Residents Are Paying Three Times More for Basic Access

Written by Bill Wight, Secretary CIBA

Council’s Ferry Fees: An Unjust Burden on Coochiemudlo Island Residents

In the peaceful enclave of Coochiemudlo Island, a community of about 850 residents, an unjust financial burden looms large. Every year, each household is hit with a $500 fee by the Redland City Council—more than three times the $150 paid by their neighbors in the Southern Moreton Bay Islands (SMBI). This staggering disparity in ferry landing fees is not just an economic strain; it’s a glaring example of council-imposed discrimination that threatens the fabric of this small, close-knit community.

An Unfair Playing Field

The Council’s defense of these fees hinges on the claim that they’ve created a “level playing field” by charging $9.50 per ferry touchdown, aimed at equally funding the island jetty terminals. However, when one group is forced to pay three times what others do, it’s clear this playing field is anything but level. For Coochiemudlo Island, this means paying significantly more for a service that is fundamentally about access to their homes—a basic right, not a privilege.

Stop the Access Tax

The Hidden Access Tax

Ferry terminals for island residents are the equivalent of bus terminals for those on the mainland. Imagine being charged an exorbitant fee every time you stepped off a bus just to get home. Mainland residents don’t face this; their terminal costs are covered by rates. Island residents, on the other hand, not only contribute to the maintenance of mainland bus terminals through their rates but are also forced to pay an additional, much steeper fee for their ferry terminals. This double-dipping by the Council amounts to an "access tax"—a tax that disproportionately affects islanders and is particularly harsh on Coochiemudlo Island.

Disparity Among Islands

What makes this situation even more egregious is the lack of uniformity in these fees. While SMBI residents are charged $150 per household, Coochiemudlo households are slapped with a $500 bill. This inconsistency adds insult to injury, highlighting a clear failure in the Council’s policy-making. It’s not just about paying for access; it’s about paying significantly more than others for the same access, an unjust burden that the Council has yet to justify satisfactorily.

The Council’s Spin

Redland City Council has tried to dress up this inequity in two ways. First, they argue that these landing fees are fair because they cover assets that directly benefit the island communities. But jetties, like bus stops, are essential infrastructure, not special benefits. They are basic necessities that allow residents to access their homes—nothing more.

Second, the Council attempts to shift the focus by placing the responsibility of fee collection on ferry operators, making it seem like a levy on businesses rather than a direct tax on households. But residents are not fooled; the cost is simply passed down to them through fare increases, funneling money straight into the Council’s coffers.

Time for Change

The residents of Coochiemudlo Island are being unfairly singled out and overcharged for basic access to their homes. This "access tax" not only deepens the divide between island communities but also highlights the Council’s disregard for equity and fairness. It's time for the Redland City Council to rethink these fees and create a genuinely fair system—one that doesn’t place an undue burden on any one community.

As residents, we must unite against this injustice, demanding that our voices be heard and that this discriminatory fee structure be abolished. The time to act is now; the future of our island community depends on it.