Comment: Bruny Island ferry plan just doesn’t add up

TOURISM pioneer Robert Pennicott reveals his concerns over the new Bruny Island ferry service.

Rob Pennicott aboard on of his Pennicott Wilderness Journeys ferries. Picture: PATRICK GEE

I HAVE been running Pennicott Wilderness Journeys from Bruny Island since 1999 and have been a rate-paying resident since 1986.

I am very passionate about delivering the very best opportunities for the island, which is the jewel in Tasmania’s tourism crown with its rich heritage, stunning coastline, nature, wildlife and artisan producers. It also provides a wonderful lifestyle for residents close to Hobart.

Being an island, ease and efficiency of access is important to its liveability for residents, which makes the Bruny Island Ferry service integral to living on Bruny.

Growth in visitation to Bruny Island has seen demand for the ferry at peak periods such as Christmas and Easter outweigh supply, resulting in longer than expected wait times for the service for residents and visitors alike.

Rob Pennicott anger over new Bruny Island ferry operator

With visitor growth also comes a very busy six-month period from December to May.

The current ferry operator runs a continuous shuttle service (about every 22 minutes) when needed rather than leaving every half-hour.

I believe increased capacity of the Bruny Island Ferry service is essential to respond to resident needs and visitor demand. This is why I put forward a joint proposal with the current operator. While unsuccessful, my focus is now on getting the best outcome for Bruny Island.

Last week the State Government announced the arrangements for the new ferry contract.

The immediate concern is that this summer there will be a booking system with ferries running every half-hour instead of a shuttling service every 22 minutes, which will be devastating for business and islanders.

The new contract arrangements announced by the Government will substantially decrease access. Yes, it will shorten car queues for the ferry, but it will also heavily reduce our numbers to the island.

In three years there will be two ferries operating with a capacity of 36 cars each, compared to the current two ferries with a capacity of 72 and 34 cars respectively. So we are looking at a maximum of 216 cars travelling each hour in peak periods with the proposed new ferry service versus 282 under the current service, which is a 23 per cent decrease in car-carrying capacity. It is not a 40 per cent increase as the Government has reported.

We need a flexible service that can respond to community needs. There is a very strong daytrip market of about 150,000 visitors to the island a year joining tours, visiting businesses and attractions before getting back on the later ferries. It is important to maximise ferry capacity and crossings to the island between 8–11.30am and from the island from 3–5.30pm. Assuming that day visitors will shift to a much later ferry crossing won’t work.

Many Tasmanians, Bruny Island residents and local business operators have contacted me to voice their concern with the planned lower capacity of the new ferry service. They are also worried, as I am, about the proposed booking system.

It is very important to manage growth to the island and ensure that residents and visitors can travel when they want. However, this does require growing access for the island over the next 10 years, not decreasing it.

The new contract arrangements announced by the Government will substantially decrease access. Yes, it will shorten car queues for the ferry, but it will also heavily reduce our numbers to the island.

I would have hoped the Government tender process would have ensured an outcome that gave everyone a better service and meets the island’s needs now and into the future.

I have long advocated against a booking system due to the unique nature of Bruny Island. Locals need to access it in a flexible manner. Increasing capacity would remove the need for a booking system.

The standby spaces on each ferry (seven car spots) means you will have no surety of being able to get on or off the island.

There is also concern around the confusion that may arise with ferry users arriving at the same time for different services. It will be difficult to manage this at both Kettering and Roberts Point terminals without major infrastructure spend. Surely it would be easier to have no booking system but better capacity, which would reduce the queues without the need for new costly infrastructure.

I have no doubt that SeaLink is a very professional and well-run company that operates ferry services around Australia. However, Bruny Island is unique. I would have hoped the Government tender process would have ensured an outcome that gave everyone a better service and meets the island’s needs now and into the future.

I urge the Government to recognise the issues and address them urgently with an outcome that substantially increases capacity on what was announced.