River residents’ double win; new vessel and build work well done
RIVER residents are celebrating a double win with a new Murray ferry ready to float, and a crossing saved.
THE River Murray town of Cadell will have a new steel-hulled ferry by the end of the year – the third of four likewise vessels being built with special State Government funding.
Constructed by Bowhill Engineering, the steel hull will be floated next week and towed to the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure’s dockyard in Morgan.
The Government had put aside $12.8 million to upgrade the state’s ageing timber-hulled ferries.
“We listened to the people of Cadell when we reversed a plan to close the ferry at Cadell and since then have invested millions of dollars to ensure that all of the ferry crossings have reliable services, with new steel-hulled ferries,’’ Transport and Infrastructure Minister Stephen Mullighan said.
There are 12 River Murray ferry crossings at 11 locations in South Australia.