Ferries floated to bring Melbourne up to speed

A fast, reliable ferry service in Melbourne could be a step closer for commuters.

Melbourne Deputy Mayor Arron Wood says the city needs ferries to overcome congestion. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

A fast, reliable ferry service in Melbourne could be a step closer for commuters, with industry figures indicating speed limits that have slowed ferries on the Yarra River could soon be relaxed.

As Melbourne grapples with mounting congestion issues, policymakers say it’s time for the city to embrace ferries in the public transport mix, as commuters in outer suburbs along the arms of Port Phillip Bay struggle with traffic and poorly connected public transport.

Deputy mayor Arron Wood told The Australian’s Better Cities forum that Melburnians were not used to using water transport every day but it was an option that would soon become part of the mix.

“With a city planning for eight million people, all forms of mass transit have to be utilised to tackle congestion and ensure Melbourne’s livability,” he said.

“The future is faster routes across the bay, where I believe we’ll see it become a genuine commuter option from Geelong, Werribee, Portarlington and perhaps further afield.”

Port Phillip Ferries, founded by businessman and former Toll transport chief Paul Little, runs the only regular commuter cross-bay service from Portarlington on the Bellarine Peninsula to Melbourne’s Docklands.

Small ferries work the Yarra in 1934.

The trip takes about an hour and 20 minutes, but could be slashed by 10 to 15 minutes if limits were relaxed, said Mr Little.

“We have done a lot of work to get the safety speed limits increased and we are optimistic we should get some positive feedback before too much time,” he said. “We think that’s important from a commuter’s point of view and people who want to use the ferry on a regular basis.”

He said the Portarlington route was competitive with other forms of commuting, and the company wanted to start a similar route to and from Geelong.

“Melburnians have got to better understand the option of sea travel,” he said.

Another ferry route — running from the back of Flinders Street Station in the CBD, up the Yarra River and finishing at Chapel Street — is also under consideration. Mr Little said time trials had shown the route would take 15 minutes and early indications showed there was a “huge amount of interest and a lot of government support”.

His company is working on special boats that would need to be able to fit under the bridges at high tides.

Melbourne mayor Robert Doyle said he was “absolutely positive people will embrace water transport”.

“I want to work with (Paul) to get a ferry from Docklands to Federation Square and as far up as Chapel Street. We both think this is a destination that would be worth exploring ... I feel on the threshold of great water transport.”

He said work was being done to change the speed limit regulatory barrier, which would take 10 minutes off the trip.