State Government to splash $6m on three-year trial of ferry service between Geelong and Melbourne
A DAILY ferry service between Geelong and Melbourne has been secured for at least three years in a major boon for the local region.
Geelong
Don't miss out on the headlines from Geelong. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A DAILY ferry service between Geelong and Melbourne has been secured for at least three years in a major boon for the local region.
The State Government announced on Wednesday night it would splash $6 million on a three-year trial, due to start early in 2019.
The new service will operate twice a day and carry up to 400 passengers.
It comes after Port Phillip Ferries trialled several free services between the Geelong waterfront and Docklands last month.
About 150 people boarded the inaugural service in a trip that took 95 minutes.
Port Phillip Ferries owner Paul Little said he was “thrilled” the State Government had thrown its support behind the new service.
“My vision for Port Phillip Ferries has always been about making ferry travel accessible to as many Victorians as possible,” he said.
“This takes us one step closer to that vision.”
RELATED: GEELONG TO MELBOURNE FERRY TRIAL KICKS OFF, PERMANENT FERRY COULD BE A REALITY BY CHRISTMAS
The ferry operator already provides daily services between Portarlington and Melbourne, attracting around 6000 commuters each month.
Premier Daniel Andrews said he expected the new route to open up new opportunities for Geelong.
“A ferry service between Geelong and Melbourne doesn’t just benefit commuters — it’s a major boost for tourism to our second biggest city,” he said.
“Victorians are getting on-board — we’ve seen a take up of 6000 passengers a month on the Portarlington to Docklands ferry — now Geelong locals will have another transport option.”
The funding certainty means Port Phillip Ferries can push ahead with commissioning a state-of-the-art high speed ferry necessary to deliver the new services.
It is expected the purpose-built vessel could see travel times between Geelong and Melbourne slashed to less than 90 minutes.
A regular service between the two cities had been strongly backed by the Committee for Geelong, which had facilited the initial trial.
Chief executive Rebecca Casson could not be reached on Wednesday night, but she recently told the Geelong Advertiser the service was needed to relieve pressure on the Geelong rail line and Princes Freeway traffic.
“Every day more residents are relocating to Victoria’s second city, with many of them commuting daily to work from Geelong to Melbourne,” Ms Casson said.
“Our city region is the fastest growing in the state and more than 17,000 Geelong commuters are travelling to Melbourne every day — more than 12,000 by road and over 5000 choosing the train.
“In order to address the more immediate issues, the Committee for Geelong believes the time is now right to explore alternatives to the standard transport options.”
Originally published as State Government to splash $6m on three-year trial of ferry service between Geelong and Melbourne
Join the conversation
Men allegedly try to lure girls into car in Barwon Heads
A group of men allegedly tried to lure two young girls into their car in Barwon Heads on Sunday, offering them lollipops and asking for their phone numbers.
Read more
Cut 200-game Saint opens up on ‘abrupt’ end as AFL fire still burns
Seb Ross was under no illusions that he was in trouble, but the end still came quick. The former Saint reflects on how it unfolded, his time at the club and what’s next — on and off the field.
Read more