Following comments appearing in local media about Redland City Council’s support of Russell Island, Council would like to ensure our Southern Moreton Bay Islands (SMBI) communities that our bay islands continue to be a high priority for Council.
For several decades, Council has advocated for improved infrastructure for the islands from other levels of government, while delivering an extensive and ongoing program of Council services and support.
Projects completed in recent years include Council’s significant contribution to new ferry terminals for all four islands, an upgrade to the ferry terminal car park on Russell Island, road surfacing (green sealing), and park renewals.
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The four island communities across the SMBI had a collective permanent population of 7635 people as of the 2021 census, and are important and valued communities within the broader Redlands Coast.
Council’s 2025–2026 Budget included significant investment on the SMBIs of $6.95 million in infrastructure projects, including a new community building, an expansion of the green seal program and design for renewal of two swimming enclosures.
Council’s Budget investment in infrastructure for the islands builds on Council’s response to residents’ wishes for island roads to be sealed faster and for better community infrastructure and will help to make them even better places to live and visit.
Projects in the 2025-2026 Budget include:
- Footpath expansion – High Street, Russell Island
- Community Infrastructure Project (CIP) shelter – Karragarra Island Community Park
- Living Shorelines coastal protection pilot – Jock Kennedy Park, Russell Island
- Living Shorelines coastal protection pilot – Rocky Point, Russell Island
- Living Shorelines coastal protection pilot – Sandy Cove, Russell Island
- Renewal of swimming enclosure – Pats Park, Macleay Island (planning and design)
- Park renewal – Pats Park, Macleay Island (design)
Projects in the 2024-2025 Budget included:
- Footpath installation – Brighton Road, Macleay Island
- Drainage upgrade and expansion – Mango Crescent, Russell Island
- Drainage upgrade and expansion – Bamboo Street, Russell Island
- Foreshore protection – Russell Terrace, Macleay Island
- Barge ramp traffic queuing improvement – Ferry Carpark, Macleay Island
- Road upgrade and expansion Program (SMBI)
The green sealing of the island roads program has been ongoing since 2014 and, since this time, Council has completed upgrades to about 74 per cent of roads across all SMBIs.
A total of $4 million was committed to the SMBI road resurfacing program in Council’s 2025–2026 Budget.
Council operates a library on Russell Island and installed Starlink at the library this year to ensure continuity in internet connectivity for the community. Many residents have poor internet access and use the library for their digital requirements with Council installing an additional public internet computer there this year.
In terms of other community facilities and services: Council has recycling and waste centres on Karragarra, Lamb, Macleay and Russell islands; offers funding and grants to numerous island-based community and not-for-profit groups; maintains several sporting fields, parks, swimming enclosures and community buildings on the islands; and ensures its citywide community activities are represented on the SMBIs (or example, Christmas on the Coast festive flicks on Russell Island).
Council’s extensive clean-up efforts following ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in March this year included an island-targeted response where some of the most significant damage was recorded.
Council also continues to advocate on behalf of island residents for improved SMBI infrastructure, services and social support from the Australian and Queensland governments and is currently developing a detailed roadmap for island advocacy.
Looking ahead, Council is working on a Southern Moreton Bay Islands (SMBI) Integrated Local Transport Plan (ILTP) to provide a strategic direction for transport planning on the bay islands. It will focus on delivering efficient and effective transport infrastructure and services for the SMBI communities.
