A decision has been made on the fate of the Daintree River ferry as locals express concern
After months of reviewing options on how to address the long wait times for the Daintree River ferry, council has finally found a solution. But not everyone is happy. SEE WHAT WAS DECIDED:
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DAINTREE businesses are concerned over plans to increase capacity on the Daintree ferry.
Douglas Shire Council on Tuesday confirmed plans to replace the existing Daintree ferry with a new vessel that offers increased capacity in a bid to address long wait times in the peak tourist season.
However not all locals are convinced, with businesses concerned about the cost, environmental, and tourism experience impacts on the region.
Dean Clapp who owns multiple Daintree businesses including the Croc Xpresso cafe has been in the area since 1986 and says he would prefer the ferry to stay as it is to avoid overcrowding.
“I’d prefer the ferry to be left as it is, “he said.
“If there is going to be this bigger ferry how are they going to cater for people on the other side of the river?
“Businesses are not equipped to cater for hundreds more people and that’s not going to look good when you can’t get anywhere to eat, or can’t get fuel and when you can’t go on a walk because it’s overcrowded with hundreds more people.”
The current ferry can cater for a maximum of 27 vehicles with plans for the new vessel to be a four-lane vessel with dual-loading capability that will increase capacity by between 48-90 per cent.
The change has raised the concerns of Daintree Rainforest Conservation and Tours director Neil Hewett.
“I think that it is incredibly reckless what they have done and haven’t thought about what’s going to happen to the community, the environment and what’s going to happen to tourism,” he said.
“They could be putting the greatest treasure of the shire in peril which is quite a reckless thing to do.
“If you are in the business of managing World Heritage like we are, we already have existing problems from the lack of provision and resources for dealing with mass intrusions, trespass and theft which is going to now double.”
Douglas Shire Council Mayor, Michael Kerr said there is no time frame on the new vessel’s completion but road development should be finished by 2025.
“All going to plan, the aim is to complete the road improvements in time for the 2025 tourism season,” he said.
“Council cannot at this point, provide a time frame for a new vessel. It can take at least 12 months before the detailed design is finalised by a naval architect.”
It’s not just environmental and overcrowding impacts concerning people with the financial burden of the project raising alarm.
“It won’t be council that pays the bill, it will be the tourist who will be fleeced with rising ferry costs, leaving less money to be spent in the local economy,” Mr Hewett said.
Mr Clapp is also concerned about the financial impact on the community.
“I don’t know where the money is going to come from and who is going to pay for it, it’s an enormous expense to have and can the taxpayer really afford to pay this?” he said.
The project is expected to cost around $6.5m and Mr Kerr said funds will be allocated 2022/23 budget.
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Originally published as A decision has been made on the fate of the Daintree River ferry as locals express concern
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