Kurnell and La Perouse ferry project: Randwick Greens councillor calls to scrap plans

With the cost of a project to revive a historic ferry route between Kurnell and La Perouse blowing out by $60m, a Randwick councillor is calling for the funds to be reallocated to improving bus services.

An artist‘s impression of the Kurnell Wharf. Image: Transport NSW

A Sydney Greens councillor has called on the state government to cancel its Kurnell and La Perouse ferry wharf project, following a $60m cost blowout.

Randwick councillor Philipa Veitch will table a notice of motion at Tuesday night’s Randwick Council meeting calling a letter to be sent to the NSW Government calling for the project – aimed at reinvigorating tourism in the Kamay Botany Bay National Park – to “not proceed”.

In turn, Ms Veitch wants the state government to reallocate the funds to bus services in southeast Sydney, including the Maroubra, Heffron and Coogee electorates – which “were cut by the previous government”.

As previously reported, the NSW Government is forging ahead with its plans for the Kurnell and La Perouse ferry route unable to be axed without a $46m cancellation fee.

The route last operated in the 1970s and despite the original price tag of $18m now nearing $78m.

Randwick councillor Philipa Veitch. (Sunday Telegraph / Flavio Brancaleone)

Ms Veitch said to this publication before the meeting that “contamination [was] a very serious issue” which many community members were concerned about.

She also noted La Perouse wharf’s proximity to the M5 Motorway which she described as a “really popular area for swimming … because it’s considered a safe beach”. She said after dredging of the wharf, the area would be dramatically changed.

As well as the environmental impacts, the Greens councillor says “there’s never been a [proper] business case presented”.

“As we now understand, there will be no public ferry service using these wharves,” Ms Veitch said. “I can understand that there might be a sort of a sentimental reason there with some older members of our community here who remember the old wharf, which was much smaller, and there was a little ferry that used to run … something like that would be nice.”

However, the proposed wharves will be 10m high and 200m long with “no public benefit”.

Resident Lynda Newnam echoed the councillor’s sentiments and said there would likely be further cost increases and noted buses were “far cheaper to run” and said the government “can’t afford” the project.

At tonight’s meeting, councillors will also be asked to reaffirm their strong opposition to the project.