Bruny Island bonanza with second ferry to ply busy route during peak times

BRUNY Island is open for business, with a long-awaited second vessel to join the ferry run.

BRUNY Island is open for business, with a long-awaited second vessel to join the ferry run.

The island will have two boats plying the route from Kettering across the D'Entrecasteaux Channel during peak times.

A barge will join regular ferry the Mirambeena, right, to help avoid long queues when people rush to the holiday playground.

The extra capacity will be a big boost for the island's growing tourism and fine food business operators.

Ferry operator Graeme Phillips will today announce he has struck a deal with the State Government to run a second vessel.

The barge, which has been converted by Mr Phillips' company, Backspring, will increase the capacity to Bruny Island by 50 per cent during peak hours between 8.30-11am and 3-4.30pm.

It is expected to start running during Easter next year.

Infrastructure Minister David O'Byrne said the barge would make a big difference to the island.

"This barge, when completed, has the potential to alleviate significant peak demand on the Bruny Island ferry service, as well as providing a local back-up for the main ferry, the Mirambeena, during annual survey and maintenance," Mr O'Byrne said.

Bruny residents have complained for years that one ferry service was not enough to service the island.

Bruny Island advisory group chairman and Kingborough councillor David Grace said the extra ferry was a "dream come true" for residents.

"It's going to open the corridor to allow more people to come to the island," Cr Grace said.

Multi-award-winning Bruny Island tourism operator Rob Pennicott last month said lost bookings were costing his business up to $2000 each day.

Mr Pennicott said ferry congestion caused tourists to abandon plans to visit the island or miss out on early crossings, which meant they couldn't reach his Adventure Bay business in time for tours.

"In the summer, we lose over $1000 worth of business and some days well over double that, from people who miss ferries and get stuck in queues, who ring and say they're not coming," he said.

The Infrastructure, Energy and Resources Department and Mr Phillips had been negotiating a deal to operate the barge, Mr O'Bryne said.

He said he expected an agreement would be in place next month that would see the barge in use at Easter.

Mr O'Bryne said the success of tourism and fine food businesses such as Bruny Island Cheese Co, Get Shucked Oysters and the Pennicott Wilderness Journey had increased the popularity of Bruny Island.

"The new barge will be an important investment in the Bruny Island community, as well as the many tourists who visit this beautiful island."

The ferry can carry up to 68 cars and does an average of 10 trips each way a day.

It operates under contract to the Government, which provides $640,000 each year to subsidise fares.

In April last year, the Government said demand for the service was not stable enough to warrant a second service.

Work is under way on an $8 million upgrade to Ferry Rd and terminals.

Passenger numbers have increased from 90,000 vehicles in 2004 to 110,000 in 2011.

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