Northern Beaches Council joins fight to save ferries — but not for commuters
Northern Beaches Council has joined the fight to save the iconic Manly ferries. However, councillors have said the historic vessels should not be used for commuter services and instead saved for tourists and special events.
Northern Beaches Council has joined the fight to save the iconic Manly ferries.
However, councillors have said the historic vessels should not be used for commuter services and instead saved for tourists and special events.
Councillors discussed an emergency motion at Tuesday night’s meeting which called on the council to make representations to the State Government and the ferry operator Transdev to retain the iconic Freshwater Class ferries.
It comes after workers were told late last month the historic ferries would be phased out over the course of the next nine years.
The proposal is to replace them with the smaller, faster Emerald Class vessels.
Cr Stuart Sprott raised the emergency motion at last night’s meeting.
Mayor Michael Regan said there was not the demand for the iconic vessels from commuters with workers instead choosing to take the Manly Fast Ferry service.
“They don’t necessarily serve a great purpose 9 to 5 Monday to Friday for commuters. Like I’ve said people have voted with their feet by using the fast ferry.”
He said the Freshwater ferries should instead be used for special events and busy tourist periods.
Cr Candy Bingham said that by stopping running the ferries for commuters the lifespan of the iconic vessels could be extended.
“It costs the same pretty much to get the fast ferry as the slow ferry. The only people who use the slow ferries during commuter times are the seniors with their seniors cards.
“They are under utilised and that is part of the problem.”
She added: “The challenge is that the ferries are getting old and being used extensively … if we use them less at non-peak times then we will increase their life.”
She also said there were concerns that engineers were unable to get replacement parts for the old ferries.
Greens councillor Natalie Warren also backed the proposal, stating that the Emerald Class ferries would be much more environmentally friendly.
“They are pretty polluting,” she said of the Freshwater class ferries. “You see the exhaust chugging out the back of them, they are pretty gross. The newer ferries are going to be more energy efficient. So I think using them at weekends for tourists and school holidays is great but the fast ferries are the way to go in the week.”
Sue Heins, deputy mayor, told the meeting there was no need to make representations to the State Government as she had spoken to a minister who had assured her this was not something that was going to happen any time soon.
“I actually believe that the minister and relevant parties actually understand how important this is,” she said of the strength of public feeling towards the ferries.
“Call me naive but I hope the government has listened very carefully, I don’t see this as urgent at all.”
But Cr Bingham urged the council to act now.
“Sorry I don’t have Cr Hein’s confidence,” she said. “I think as a community we have to be absolutely diligent to make sure we don’t lose our iconic ferries.”
Councillors voted in favour of writing to both the State Government and Transdev.
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