Rivercat ferries need to be faster: Western Sydney Business Chamber
Rivercat ferries are set to resume services to Parramatta but it’s time to replace the vessels with a faster, more environmentally-friendly fleet, a business leader has said.
Parramatta
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Give Rivercat commuters their need, for speed.
As Parramatta Wharf reopens on Friday after a $7.4 million upgrade, Western Sydney Business Chamber executive director David Borger called for the government to overhaul the Rivercat fleet with new vessels.
“The time has come to change the Rivercat and change the ferries that run along the Parramatta River,’’ he said.
“The Rivercats are just too slow and create too much sea swell, erosion and vessels that have less speed.
“The future is probably smaller vessels that go quicker and produce less impact in terms of waves on the side.’’
Mr Borger said residents living in massive developments flanking the Parramatta River also warranted speedier services.
“Now we’ve got all these new communities sprouting up like Melrose Park, and Meadowbank has been going ahead for a few years now,’’ he said.
“They’re still using the same old tired vessels. They’re just too slow. We feel the need for speed at Parramatta.
“We’ve got a real 1980s services. We need a 2020s service.”
The demand for more ferry services was also highlighted in last year’s NRMA Blue Highways report.
The document focused on the establishment of Western Quay at Sydney Olympic Park and the potential for fast ferry services to reach the CBD and Parramatta in less than 30 minutes.
“For commuters along the river west of Sydney Olympic Park, smaller, environmentally friendly ferries suitable for low tides would connect passengers to the Western Quay at Wentworth Point, while fast ferries would transport people directly to the Sydney CBD,’’ the report said.
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