Ferry cuts isolate Maria Island as operators cease trips to the award-winning tourist destination

MARIA Island is currently off limits to tourists with local ferry operators all but stopping services after the end of the peak season.

Visitation to Maria Island has virtually ceased since the end of the summer tourist seaso

TOURIST destination Maria Island has been cut off from visitors with ferry operators all but stopping services after the end of the peak season.

Tourism businesses in the region told the Mercury that no one is getting to the island at the moment except by expensive charter.

Last winter, the island experienced an almost tenfold increase in winter visitation, with 5000 people travelling to the island on subsidised ferries.

But since the recent high season finished at the end of April, visitation has virtually ceased as one cruise company has stopped taking tourists to the island and another is not taking forward bookings.

Uncertainty over government subsidies, an unresolved tender process for a single operator and concerns over safety at the island’s jetty have all been cited as reasons for the cessation of ferry services.

Orford Triabunna Chamber of Commerce president Debbie Wisby said the lack of regular ferries was disappointing for visitors and would have an adverse affect on the local economy.

Ms Wisby said Maria Island Ferry operator John Cole-Cook had written to the State Government on April 30 citing concerns over safety at the jetty and asking for permission to drop people off at a more sheltered location.

He had also asked whether the winter subsidy – offered since 2009 – would be continued this year, but is yet to receive a response.

Mr Cole-Cook declined to comment yesterday.

Ms Wisby said a breakwater near the jetty had been removed as part of the jetty upgrade, meaning the weather was often too rough for passengers to be dropped off. The breakwater will be rebuilt.

“The risk needs to be sorted out before the next stage, which would be a subsidy and if that could occur that would be great. At the moment my understanding is neither ferry is operating. It’s not good for tourism to have this undecided,” she said.

Tasmanian Tourism Industry Council chief executive Luke Martin said Maria Island, with its World Heritage-listed convict site, was an iconic East Coast destination.

He said the Government would eventually have to “bite the bullet” and commit to a long-term strategy for year-round access to the island.

A State Government spokesperson said the winter subsidy was still being considered and work on the jetty breakwater was continuing.