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A small business operating a fast ferry service from Brisbane to North Stradbroke Island has been forced to close just days after launching.
River to Bay operates ferries from Brisbane River to the small seaside township of Dunwich with trips ranging between 30 minutes and one hour.
But the business will cease operating this week after Redland City Council hit them with a massive fee to use a public jetty on the island.
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The company had already obtained a licence for $1000 but claim they were later told the fee would increase to $78,000 if they use jetty more than 50 times a year.
River to Bay told 9News the exorbitant fees would "kill" small businesses.
"We're in a bit of disarray about it," one crew member said.
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"It's let down a lot of people that were really hopeful this would help not only us, but those small businesses over on Stradbroke."
Redland Council has argued the fees are to help maintain the jetty but said it was working with the operator and the state government to find a solution.
