COVID FEARS: There are calls for a Russell Island bridge or emergency barge ramps to reduce reliance on ferries.
CALLS for a bridge connecting Russell Island to the mainland have been renewed after a woman on the island contracted COVID-19.
Ian Olsson from the Russell Island Development Association said a bridge between the island and the mainland, as well as short-haul emergency barge ramps, would give residents alternative transport options to the passenger ferries.
"The fact that a COVID-19 positive passenger has travelled to and from Russell Island on Translink-subsidised ferries has highlighted risks of transmission of COVID-19 on Russell Island," he said.
"They should be provided bridge and water transport to a standard of other people in Brisbane."
The idea of a bridge to Russell Island has been raised by residents for decades.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey rejected the idea in 2019, saying projected population figures would not warrant the extensive cost.
Studies have estimated the cost to be between $110 million and $236 million.
Other anti-bridge arguments included that some residents wanted the islands to remain islands, not to be joined to the mainland.
Russell Island bridge advocate Greg Hartay-Szabo said there had been growing calls for shorter and more affordable barge routes and bridging the islands to relieve pressure on foreshore parking and ferry overcrowding.
"There is overall consensus among island residents (and visitors) that the ferries are struggling with a dynamically increasing island population," he said.
"Most current island infrastructure is tailored around and customised to the business preferences of a single water transport monopoly."
He called for a survey into bridging the islands.
Of the three candidates who have so far stepped forward for the Redlands electorate, none identified an island bridge as a priority.
Redlands MP Kim Richards said the response to the virus case on Russell Island had been fast and effective and she did not support an island bridge.
"The biggest part of (the SMBIs') uniqueness is that they are islands, located in close proximity to our Redland Coast mainland and indeed metropolitan Brisbane," she said.
"We've seen how well Queensland Health responded to the positive case tested on Russell Island, mobilising a pop-up testing clinic within hours."
Henry Pike said the LNP would consider a bridge only if most islanders supported it and it was a better financial option than water transport.
"Currently neither of these thresholds seem to be met (but) I'm keen to test (this), if elected," he said.
"Our current priority is ensuring that island infrastructure is brought into the 21st century."
Greens candidate Carmen McNaught said her party prioritised improving public transport, including cheap, high-frequency buses linking up to the ferries, over building a bridge.
"Our feeling is that the bridge from the mainland is not supported by the majority of Russell islanders," she said.
