Parramatta Council attacks Transdev F3 ferry changes
Parramatta politicians have slammed controversial and ‘backward’ plans to overhaul the ferry network, detailing why they feel the western Sydney hotspot is being treated as ‘second rate’.
Northern District Times
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Parramatta’s frustrated politicians are all aboard the same boat when it comes to timetable changes for Sydney’s ferry network and have hit back at the government’s “backwards” plan that fails to draw commuters west of the Parramatta River.
At a council meeting last night, Labor and Liberal councillors criticised the government’s plans to overhaul the network from 2021.
Under proposals, the government’s ferry operator, Transdev, wants to terminate Rivercat ferries at Barangaroo instead of Circular Quay and would force city-bound Parramatta commuters to change twice to reach the city via Sydney Olympic Park.
Liberal Councillor Steven Issa said the council was not scathing enough in its submission to the government, which was investing “inordinate amounts of money” with developments such as Parramatta Square and the Education Department’s headquarters near the wharf at Phillip St but failed to provide the ferry services.
“We’re going to have in excess of 10,000 new workers in our city (over the next five years) and despite that, Transdev is treating Parramatta like the source of commuters rather than the destination,’’ he said.
“I think they’ve got it backwards. I don’t think it’s future-focused enough.”
Cr Issa said many executives who lived in affluent suburbs such as Putney would use the ferry to reach Parramatta but the ferry overhaul left them without options.
“This particular plan still takes people from Parramatta into the city rather than from the city into Parramatta,’’ he said.
“Parramatta should be used as a destination, not a source.’’
Liberal councillor Bill Tyrrell said the plan failed to support Parramatta being a destination for employment and entertainment.
Labor councillor Patricia Prociv, who also provided individual feedback to Transdev, called on the government to upgrade its fleet to smaller vessels to make commuting more efficient.
“In Parramatta, we are subject to retrofitting of our public transport and that’s what’s happening here,’’ she said.
“We need Transdev to commit to buy these ferries before they change the route.’’
Our Local Community’s Michelle Garrard called for the changes to reflect Parramatta as the booming city it is.
“Parramatta is now a destination, we’re not a location,’’ she said.
“We can’t let it slip because Parramatta again is being treated second rate by the state.’’
Labor councillor Donna Davis labelled the plan that would force Parramatta and Rydalmere commuters to catch two ferries to reach the city as ridiculous.
“The biggest challenge with this proposal, if they have to change ferry services, they’re not going to catch public transport,’’ she said.
“They’re going to jump in their car and drive here and that’s what we’re trying to avoid.’’
She said the NRMA report Blue Highways, which explored using smaller vessels and was endorsed by the Western Sydney Business Chamber, overlooked western wharves.
The council will also write to councils such as Mosman and North Sydney who will also be adversely affected by Transdev changes.
The council welcomed more ferries on the weekends but said they were all-stop journeys and the government cut express services.