New Kangaroo Island ferry dock a ‘must’ for Glenelg Jetty overhaul, mayor says
A proposed $110m Glenelg jetty revamp should include a ferry terminal to link the popular seaside town to Kingscote, the KI mayor says.
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A passenger ferry to Kingscote would be a huge boost for Kangaroo Island, the region’s mayor says, and a terminal must be included in plans for an overhaul of Glenelg jetty.
Mayor Michael Pengilly said the council had been approached by a business keen to start up a service to Kingscote.
“There’s a company that would be most interested in starting a ferry between Glenelg and Kingscote in the near future if it can get the go ahead,” Mr Pengilly said.
Mr Pengilly would not reveal the company’s identity, but said the proposal could potentially work with only minor upgrades to the Glenelg jetty in the short term.
He said the proposal would make a “big difference” to the Kingscote business community.
“We don’t generally get hardly anything from the cruise ships in Kingscote — most of them go on to Seal Bay,” Mr Pengilly said.
“(But) to drop 200 people into Kingscote for a number of hours or for people to come and stay for a night or two would certainly be a great thing for the community.
“There’s quite a few businesses such as distilleries and the lavender farm within easy reach of Kingscote that would pick up a great benefit from it.”
There are now two ferries between Cape Jervis and Penneshaw, operated by Sealink and Kangaroo Island Connect.
Various other ferries have connected Kingscote to the mainland in the past, but Mr Pengilly estimated it had been about a decade since the last service stopped.
He said under the latest proposal, the service would ferry passengers only — not their cars — to Kingscote.
As reported by The Advertiser, the State Government last week announced it had commissioned a study into options for a Glenelg jetty overhaul, costing up to $110 million.
Holdfast Bay Council in 2015 flagged the proposal, which would include features such as a hotel, aquarium and other recreational activities, along with a potential ferry berth.
The Government committed $20 million towards the jetty overhaul, on the proviso that it also received backing from other funding sources including the council and investors.
Previous proposals for another ferry to the island have been flagged, including one by property developers Con Makris and Caj Amadio during 2013.
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Mary-Lou Corcoran, general manager of the Kingscote-based Aurora Ozone Hotel, said a new ferry would provide another transport option, benefiting local businesses, residents and tourists alike.
“We have so many international tourists here and when I speak to locals from SA most of them haven’t been to Kangaroo Island and they see it as quite an inaccessible holiday because of the cost of the transfer by either the ferry or by plane,” Ms Corcoran said.
“But it’s an absolutely fantastic place — it’s an asset to SA as a community.”
Kangaroo Island Tourism, Food, Wine and Beverage Association chairman Pierre Gregor supported moves to increase access to the island.
However, he said any new ferry would need to run year round — not just during the busy summer period when visitation was at its highest.
“There have already been a number of failed attempts at fast ferry services from Glenelg, and stop-start doesn’t really help anybody,” Mr Gregor said.
Kangaroo Island Commissioner Wendy Campana labelled the push for a ferry from Glenelg “a terrific proposal”, but noted it would be a longer, rougher journey than the trip between Cape Jervois and Penneshaw.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Stephan Knoll said the Government had just launched the tender for a study into the jetty upgrade.
“We … look forward to considering the options once the report is finalised,” Mr Knoll said.
michelle.etheridge@news.com.au