Fix the Bruny ferry link or see jobs go, says top tourism operator

BRUNY Island’s top tourism operator says unless plans for the ferry operation are fixed, he will “lose millions” and have to shed staff.

Plans for the new Bruny Island ferry service were a hot topic of discussion today as tourism guru Rob Pennicott opened his new cruise centre and restaurant on the southern Tasmanian island. Picture: SEALINK

BRUNY Island’s top tourism operator says unless plans for the ferry operation are fixed, he will “lose millions” and have to shed staff this summer.

New operator Sealink Travel Group takes over service from September 23 amid controversy over capacity and plans to introduce a ticketing system.

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The company today said it was open to operating a third vessel on the route over the summer peak period.

Rob Pennicott — who operates an award-winning cruise business on the island and was part of an unsuccessful bid to operate the ferry service — said he was watching with concern.

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“The model that has been approved by Government is very inadequate for capacity and I’m very concerned because the approved ferries and what they say they are bringing will mean 20-30 per cent less capacity this summer, but we’re talking to Sealink and hopefully working that out,” he said.

“A 20 per cent drop would mean 18 staff would lose their job and we’d be down millions of dollars and I’m just one business on the island

“The only way to fix it is that three boats this summer or two boats with bigger capacity for the future.

“We need an announcement ... if an announcement is done that gives us capacity, we won’t have a problem.”

Rob Pennicott at his new cruise base and restaurant at Adventure Bay on Bruny Island.

Mr Pennicott said he was trying to convince Sealink to put on another boat but tender process could have been better.

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“I think Sealink is a good company but I think the information that they were fed to give their tender was probably not complete and not enough information,” he said.

Sealink general manager Paul Victory said the company was listening to the community and was hoping to put a third vessel on the popular route to deal with the summer rush.

Sealink Travel Group general manager Paul Victory says the company is listening to community concerns.

“We are considering that as an option right at the moment and I’m sort of saying ... Christmas, New Year’s Day, the peak of the school holidays, may well need more services and that’s something that we’ll be monitoring and trying to bring in,” he said.

Premier Will Hodgman said he had faith in the process the Government had gone through and that the tenderer was listening to community concerns.

“There was a competitive process it was independently audited and it’s important that contracts like this meet the highest standards, provide the right service and get the best value for money and also for people on the island and those who visit,” he said.

Premier Will Hodgman speaking to reporters on Bruny Island today.

“We are confident, very confident, that Sealink — who are here on the island today engaging with the local community — will deliver a product that suits the needs of islanders but also the increased numbers of tourists.”

But Labor infrastructure spokesman David O’Byrne said the process had been shambolic.

“We’ve got a ferry process which will effectively choke off the growth of tourism visitation to the island and potentially create a whole range of concerns for locals.

“This was the moment to build a better service, greater capacity, greater access, to the island and the government’s squibbed it and went for a tender process which has effectively caused chaos for the local community and the tourism industry.”

Labor MPs Alison Standen and David O'Byrne speak at the opening of Rob Pennicott's new cruise base and restaurant at Adventure Bay.