Ferry and Barge Changes Spark Conversation About Island Transport on Coochiemudlo - as a reminder, until recently, we WERE paying up to $6.50 per trip for either the ferry or barge.  Thank you to Coochie Progress who got the community united in getting the 50c fare!

 

Recent changes to ferry and barge pricing have prompted discussion among Coochiemudlo Island residents about how transport works for a small island community.

 

From 2 March 2026, new pricing introduced by ferry operator Amity Trader includes a $2 walk-on fare for adults on the vehicle barge, $1 for children aged 5–14, and free travel for infants. The passenger ferry fare remains at 50 cents, under the Queensland Government’s permanent 50-cent public transport fare program.

 

The changes also introduce a $10 fee for oversized trolleys exceeding 65 cm in length or width when transported on the vehicle barge.

 

Unlike the passenger ferry, which operates within the Translink network and receives subsidised fares through the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), the vehicle barge is a privately operated commercial service. Because it is not part of the government-contracted public transport network, the barge does not receive the same subsidised fare rebates.

 

That distinction helps explain why the passenger ferry remains at 50 cents while the barge fares are set independently by the operator.

While the recent focus has been on pricing changes, Coochiemudlo’s transport costs remain relatively low compared with other island communities in Moreton Bay.

 

Vehicle ferry crossings to the Southern Moreton Bay Islands can cost around $90 one way before subsidies, while crossings to North Stradbroke Island typically range between $79 and $90 depending on vehicle size and travel time.

 

By comparison, Coochiemudlo’s vehicle barge costs roughly half that amount for a standard car, making it the lowest-cost vehicle crossing among the bay islands.

 

In addition, Amity Trader currently offers resident vehicle specials, including a Wednesday shopper return for $45 and a weekend return (Friday to Monday) for $50 for permanent residents.

 

But comparing prices between islands only tells part of the story.

Coochiemudlo functions differently from larger islands such as Stradbroke or the Southern Moreton Bay Islands.

 

The island does not have a full supermarket, hardware store, fuel station or bulk gas supplier. As a result, many residents regularly travel to the mainland for groceries, fuel and household supplies.

 

Some residents use grocery delivery services, although delivery surcharges to the island can add to costs. Others prefer to shop in person and bring goods back using shopping trolleys or beach carts.

For residents who choose not to use a vehicle, those trolleys are often an essential part of how goods move between the island and the mainland.

 

However, trolley size limits mean that larger carts cannot be taken on the passenger ferry. Instead, they must travel on the vehicle barge, where the new oversized trolley fee now applies.

 

For many households, this may simply mean adjusting how goods are transported. But in some cases, the impact can be unexpected.

One example raised locally involves young residents collecting recyclable containers through Queensland’s Containers for Change program. Each eligible container returns 10 cents, meaning 100 containers equals $10.

 

If a trolley is required to transport those containers to the mainland recycling point, the oversized trolley fee could significantly reduce what the collector earns.

 

Coochiemudlo already has one community-based solution helping residents manage mainland supplies. The Coochie Community Shopping Service, run by volunteers, coordinates grocery and fuel runs for residents who may not be able to travel themselves.

 

The service helps many households access essential items without needing to leave the island, although it does not cover every type of goods transport.

 

And that raises an interesting question.

 

Rather than focusing only on ferry fares, this moment could also be an opportunity to think about how goods move to and from the island more broadly.

 

Other small island communities around the world have experimented with ideas such as:

• shared grocery transport runs
• community freight days
• parcel lockers or delivery hubs near the jetty
• bulk supply deliveries from mainland stores

• shared cargo bikes or electric carts to move goods around the island

 

Some islands even run dedicated weekly supply runs, allowing groceries, parcels and hardware orders to travel together instead of requiring multiple individual trips.

 

Coochiemudlo already has a strong track record of community-driven solutions, from the volunteer shopping service to the many local groups that support island life.

 

So the current transport conversation might be an opportunity for something positive: a broader discussion about how the community wants to manage the movement of everyday goods in the future.

How do people currently bring groceries and supplies to the island?
What works well — and what doesn’t?

Are there ideas that could make island logistics easier for everyone?

Sometimes the best solutions come not from policy changes, but from the practical creativity of the community itself.

 

And on Coochiemudlo, that kind of creativity is rarely in short supply.

 

💬 Have Your Say: How Do We Move Goods on Coochie?

 

The recent ferry and barge discussion has highlighted something many islanders already know — transporting everyday goods is part of life on Coochiemudlo.

 

Groceries, gas bottles, hardware supplies, recycling, deliveries… everyone seems to have their own system.

 

So we’d love to hear from you.

 

How do you usually move goods between the island and the mainland?

 

A few questions to get the conversation started:

 

• How do you normally get to the mainland for shopping, appointments and other activities? Eg; take the ferry to your car on the mainland, ferry to bus/taxi, take your car by barge, walk onto barge

• Would a community freight day or shared grocery run make life easier?

• Are there delivery or supply ideas that could work for the island?

• What small changes could make transporting everyday items easier?

You can share your thoughts on the Coochie Community Online Facebook page or send us a message.

Sometimes the best solutions start with a simple conversation.