RESIDENTS and lobby groups have welcomed the prospect of a commuter ferry to the CBD, after a 10-month feasibility study came back with positive results.
According to the $300,000 study, which Planning Minister Matthew Guy launched last May, a trip between Werribee South and the Docklands on a large catamaran could take 50 minutes.
But the opposition yesterday slammed the idea as “half-baked” and accused the government of having no real plan to implement it.
The preliminary Ernst & Young report found privately run services could work on a route between Portarlington and Docklands, with stops at Werribee South, Altona and Williamstown.
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It stated that rapid growth in Wyndham and the need to counter West Gate Freeway congestion had caused a “pressing need” to explore all transport options. A viable service could take between 50 and 65 minutes from Werribee South and about 80 minutes from Portarlington.
“If Melbourne is to grow sustainably we need to examine all aspects of commuter movement to keep our city liveable,” Mr Guy (pictured) said.
The ferry could potentially have access to wi-fi and a canteen.
A final report and cost analysis won’t be handed down until July. A 2008 study that examined a similar ferry route listed choppy conditions, low patronage, cost blowouts and the need for heavy government subsidy as the biggest obstacles.
Altona Labor MP Jill Hennessy said the money being funnelled into ferry planning would be better spent on a second river crossing, arterial roadworks and expanded bus services to better connect with trains. Opposition treasury spokesman Tim Pallas said a bay ferry should not be taxpayer-funded as it would carry a negligible number of commuters compared to the 220,000 cars predicted to use the West Gate by 2020. He suspected the government would relegate the project to the private sector and try to take credit.
Mr Guy said a discussion paper gauging potential demand for a ferry service found between a third and a quarter of the resident workforce in Point Cook, Altona and Williamstown commuted to the CBD, “confirming a large potential catchment for a future service”.
Point Cook resident Alice Osborne said a bay ferry could be a boost for western suburbs commuters, providing an alternative to crowded trains and choked roads.
Although she is waiting on the finer details, including the ticketing system to be used, Ms Osborne believed a ferry service would be heavily patronised by residents. “I’d rather sit on a ferry for 50 minutes than be stuck on Point Cook Road.”
Western suburbs lobby group LeadWest said a third transport option was a welcome addition for Wyndham’s growth corridor. “I think it’s an interesting proposal, and if the numbers stack up I wish them well,” chief executive Anton Mayer said.
FLOATING ASSET
A FERRY link from Docklands to Werribee South will bolster tourism in Wyndham, the government says.
Along with relieving road congestion, Planning Minister Matthew Guy said a ferry service would draw people to Point Cook’s coastal areas and take in the “delights” of the Werribee Open Range Zoo, Werribee Park Mansion and the RAAF museum.
Mayor Heather Marcus said Wyndham had a number of “untapped” attractions.
“Everybody knows we have a fantastic tourism precinct,” Cr Marcus said.
“Whatever we can do to open up this city without further congesting our roads would be embraced by the council.”
