Yarra River ferry from Chapel St to Melbourne CBD, Docklands plan

A FERRY for commuters from Chapel St to the CBD and beyond may become a reality under a plan being hatched by a high-profile businessman Paul Little and Melbourne’s Lord Mayor.

A Port Phillip Ferries ferry linking Portarlington to Docklands. Picture: Aaron Francis

A COMMUTER river ferry would run from Chapel St to the city and Docklands under a plan being hatched by high-profile businessman Paul Little and Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle.

Preliminary talks have begun about running a service on the Yarra river from the Church St Bridge into the CBD and beyond.

Mr Little’s Port Phillip Ferries company, which runs a service between Portarlington and Docklands, is considering its options.

Port Phillip Ferries chief executive Murray Rance said many criteria had to be met before the service was viable.

Paul Little on a Port Phillip Ferries ferry. Picture: Alison Wynd

“We are interested and we are having conversations but we need to do a fair bit more research,’’ Mr Rance said.

That included wash, speed, bridge heights and the impact on other users such as the rowers from clubs near Alexandra Gardens, he said.

“But there’s an appetite for it,’’ Mr Rance said.

Port Phillip Ferries chief executive Murray Rance. Picture: Alison Wynd

Cr Doyle said he was a strong supporter of a new ferry service on the Yarra.

“I’ve spoken to Paul Little about this possibility and I’m very hopeful that if we can remove some regulatory barriers it would be a great addition to Melbourne’s tourism and transport options,” he said.

Mr Rance said approvals were needed from several government departments as well as consulting other river users.

“If you drive down Alexandra Avenue in the mornings, it’s hopeless trying to get into the city, so it’d make sense to use the waterways,” he said.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle says he is a strong supporter of a new ferry service on the Yarra. Picture: Sarah Matray

Mr Little, former boss of Toll Holdings and ex-chairman of the Essendon Football Club, launched Port Phillip Ferries, which runs services three times a day from Docklands to Portarlington.

The company already has a base at Victoria Harbour and would need to find a new stop along the river in the city, possibly near Princes Bridge or Crown. A new pontoon or stop would also have to be created on the banks of the river near the Church St Bridge.

A much smaller vessel would be required, rather than the 35m vessel crossing the bay. The ferry would enable travellers to connect to or from Chapel St trams and South Yarra train station.

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