Brisbane's CityCats could soon become floating bars, with the council exploring options to add alcohol licensing to the city's ferries.
Brisbane City Council (BCC) has confirmed it is looking into a pilot program that would see ten double-decker CityCat ferries outfitted with licensed bars.
A spokesperson for BCC said the idea was inspired by Sydney ferry services that serve alcohol.
Councillor Andrew Wines told ABC Radio Brisbane the plan was in its early stages.
"We're having a look at an idea where, on a small number of ferries … to see whether we can have a food and beverage offering on our ferries to allow people the option to be able to buy a drink if they wish on the ferry on the way home," he said.
BCC says the idea was inspired by Sydney ferry services that serve alcohol, such as the Manly Ferry. (ABC News: Dean Caton)
Cr Wines said Saturdays were more popular for CityCat patronage than weekdays, and that the council was looking for ways to "make living in Brisbane even more enjoyable".
"We thought we would have a discussion both with the public and with a range of people about whether this was something people were interested in."
The idea has drawn some criticism from local residents, with one caller describing it as "a ridiculous idea".
"What's next, beers on the bus?" Gavin said.
"You've got families using those things, kids there. People are going to get intoxicated.
"What happens if they have an accident because they're drunk and they slip getting off the ferry?"
Cr Wines said BCC would take licensing requirements into account, including serving food and practising responsible service of alcohol.
"We are absolutely going to stay on the right side of all licensing and RSA requirements on this," he said.
"This is not going to be a party boat, this is going to be an opportunity to have a drink here and there, not dissimilar to Straddie … and not dissimilar to Manly Ferry in Sydney."
Cr Wines says licensing laws would be taken into account, including serving food and practising responsible service of alcohol. (ABC News)
He said matters like opening hours and product offerings were still being worked through.
Deputy leader of the Labor council opposition Lucy Collier said the council had the "wrong priorities".
"Brisbane's LNP Lord Mayor thinks it's fine for CityCat staff to be overworked and underpaid, and now he wants them to become bartenders and clean up intoxicated people's vomit," Cr Collier said.
Pay negotiations still ongoing
The plan comes at a fraught moment for CityCat operator RiverCity Ferries, which is still working through a new pay deal with Brisbane ferry staff.
Ferry staff's refusal to work on Riverfire night on September 5 was the latest episode in a long-running pay dispute between the Maritime Workers Union and RiverCity Ferries.
Pay negotiations between MUA and the operator have been ongoing since October last year, with workers conducting industrial action intermittently since July 30.
Cr Wines said he would work with RiverCity Ferries to determine how bar staffing might be accomplished but said he wasn't certain how pay negotiations were progressing.
"I believe that negotiations have been progressing and that the two groups … my understanding is that things have been improving and I remain optimistic."