Calls grow to increase ferry frequency as commuters turned away at Watsons Bay wharf

TOURISTS are being left behind on Watsons Bay wharf as jam-packed ferries struggle to cope with increasing demand. Woollahra Council has called it a “blight on tourism”.

Tourists are being left on Watsons Bay wharf on the weekends because the ferries are too full. Pictures: Carly Earl

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THE Woollahra Council has written to the NSW Transport Minister to highlight the problem of people being left behind on Watsons Bay wharf because ferries are too full.

Wentworth Courier witnessed several commuters being told they could not board the 2.30pm and 4pm Sydney ferries to Circular Quay on Sunday afternoon as they were too full, sparking calls from passengers and business owners to increase their frequency.

Everyone made it onto the 3pm and 3.30pm ferries.

Woollahra Council has written to minister Andrew Constance to draw his attention to the issue which Mr Andrew Petrie said was a “blight on tourism”.

Rachel Zimmerman, who was on holiday from the UK, said she was “frustrated” after not making the 4pm service.

“We already waited 45 minutes to get from Circular Quay to here so we are a bit annoyed we didn’t get on after waiting in a very long line,” she said.

Local business owners and commuters are calling for the frequency of ferries on the Watsons Bay to Circular Quay route to be increased.

“I think they need more ferries, otherwise I think it will put tourists off coming here.”

Crew members used counters to ensure numbers did not exceed capacity — usually 300 to 330 people.

On weekends and public holidays, the first ferry leaves at 9am and the last at 9.30pm. They run every half-an-hour during the day.

Lucas Costa, a manager at Doyle’s seafood restaurant, said customers were often left with no other option than to catch a cab, bus or water taxi — which cost about $140 — to the city after not making it on to a ferry.

Sue Matthews called for more ferries during peak periods after she was left behind on Watsons Bay wharf

“I’ve been here five years and every year the ferries are getting busier and the queue is absolutely massive,” said Mr Costa.

“It is already busy now but it will get worse in December and it is an issue for the locals as well as our guests.”

He feared the chronic lack of parking would get worse if the State Government did not increase the frequency of the ferries over summer.

If they don’t catch the ferry then they will drive and there have been times when people have called us to cancel a booking because they can’t find a spot,” he said.

Sue Matthews and her family did not make it onto the 4pm ferry.

“I think they should increase the frequency or maybe have bigger sized ferries,” she said.

The line for the ferry stretched all the way to the end of the wharf.

Mr Petrie said ferry workers had raised concerns with him from a service point of view as Watsons Bay was the third busiest commuter wharf in the Sydney Harbour.

“They are also worried about safety because they have had problems with people trying to push their way on.”

A Transport for NSW spokeswoman said an extra 61 weekly services had been provided to the eastern suburbs since 2011 and extra standby services were provided when they became available.

“Transport for NSW continues to monitor customer demand for ferry services and will consider improvements as part of future services reviews.”

She said bus services to “popular destinations” like the city provided “an alternative for customers during busy periods.”

The government has announced six new ferries servicing routes in the inner harbour from Watsons Bay in the east to Cockatoo Island in the west, with the fist vessels on the water late this year.

They will hold up to 400 passengers with 12 spaces for passengers using wheelchairs.

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