Brisbane's first water taxi in decades could be about to start operation along the city's eponymous river, but the CBD will remain off limits for the time being.

However, Brisbane City Council has poured cold water on the entire operation, with deputy mayor and infrastructure chairman Adrian Schrinner saying the council was "far from being at a point to provide operational approval".

A former Hobart water taxi (pictured awaiting a new paint scheme) will soon operate in Brisbane.

Brisbane Ferry Service and Water Taxis founder and managing director Will Collyer said he would have his 19-seat vessel on the water within weeks and called on the council to make more jetties available.

Mr Collyer said his water taxi, which had previously operated in Hobart, would have access to South Bank and public jetties up and down the river and out to the Redlands.