NSW state election: Labor pledges ferry upgrades in Balmain and Drummoyne

A bold plan to boost ferries in Sydney’s Inner West by creating two new ferry stops and reopening a former wharf has been promised by Labor if elected. Find out how it will work.

The site of the Balmain West Ferry Wharf. Picture: Joel Carrett.

A bold plan to boost ferries in Sydney’s Inner West by creating two new ferry stops and reopening a former wharf has been promised by NSW Labor in the lead-up to the next month’s state election.

The vision is hoped to reduce heavy traffic on roads in Sydney’s inner west and relieve the burden on other forms of public transport.

Under the current proposal, Elliott St Wharf in West Balmain would be reopened, a decade after it had its ferry services cut in 2013. Two new ferry stops would be created at Annandale and Pyrmont, with the frequency of ferry services in Drummoyne to be reviewed.

The additional stops would be located at existing wharves — the Rozelle Bay stop is located at Chapman Rd, Annandale, while the Pirrama Park wharf is located at Elizabeth MacArthur Pontoon.

Shadow Transport Minister and Summer Hill Labor MP Jo Haylen said more ferry services would improve public transport in Canada Bay and the Inner West.

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne with Summer Hill MP Jo Haylen and Philippa Scott.

“(Ferries) don’t just take cars off the road, they ease the pressure on our buses and light rail services,” Ms Haylen said.

“This will mean more space on our existing buses and light rail, and more options for Inner West passengers.”

Elliott St Wharf in West Balmain. Picture: Joel Carrett.

Labor’s pledged upgrade to ferry services comes as it seeks regain two key seats of Drummoyne and Balmain, vacated by John Sidoti and Greens MP Jamie Parker respectively.

In Drummoyne, Labor candidate Julia Little is competing against Liberal candidate Stephanie Di Pasqua, the current deputy mayor of Canada Bay Council.

While Labor’s Philippa Scott is in a tight battle to regain the seat of Balmain from The Greens, which has put forward Kobi Shetty as its candidate.

Both Labor candidates echoed Ms Haylen’s comments about the upgraded ferry services improving transport options for Inner West residents.

The Balmoral and Clontarf ferries sitting idle at the Balmain ferry yard. Picture: John Grainger.

“As a lifelong local, I know how important public transport is to the Inner West. Labor’s ferry plan will get cars off our roads and provide fast, clean transport access to the CBD for residents of Glebe, Annandale, Balmain and Rozelle,” Ms Scott said.

Ms Little said more ferry services between Drummoyne and Circular Quay would reduce pressure on the area’s bus network and lead to fewer cars on Victoria Rd.

Labor’s election promise also comes on the back of NSW’s problematic Emerald ferries which were forced to dock earlier this year due to mechanical issues, including one event where an engine, according to Ms Haylen, “basically exploded”

“These overseas built ferries are riddled with defects and have failed passengers time and time again,” Ms Haylen said of the Emerald ferries.

“They are emblematic of the Liberals failed policy of buying cheap, off the shelf transport infrastructure from overseas.”

Labor did not indicate the cost of its commitment to boosting ferry services in the Inner West, but a spokesman for Ms Haylen said the cost of making the three ferry stops operational would be covered by existing Transport for NSW resources.

The wharf at Elliott St is currently open to the public, serviceable and would require minimal upgrades to return regular ferry services, while there is existing wharf infrastructure at Rozelle Bay and Pirrama Park.