A North Shore resident is calling on Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to meet residents "in the middle" for extending Hibbard Ferry service hours.
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Kerry Fox says extending the hours is required to keep pace with growing community needs, sealing of Maria River Road and housing construction.
Ms Fox says starting the Hibbard Ferry at 6.30am through the week and at 8am on weekends is not sufficient to meet community expectations.
"It certainly appears that there are a lot more new residents living on the North Shore," she said.
"There are new houses being constructed and plenty of renovations underway on homes on Shoreline Drive.
"This means there is a lot more traffic going back and forth to accommodate those works.
"As well, starting the ferry at 8am on the weekends is just too late for getting kids to sports.
"We also need access later in the evening so we can go out too," she said.
Ms Fox said starting the ferry at 3pm was also causing a hassle for parents with school children.
"There are many other issues," she added.
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The North Shore resident has launched a change.org petition calling on residents to support her calls for the extension of hours.
It has already reached around 300 signatures in a few days.
Ms Fox's petition is calling for hours to be extended to, Monday to Thursday, 5.45am until 10am and 1.45pm until 8pm; Friday, 5.45am until 8pm; Saturday and Sunday, 6.45am until 8pm; public holidays 6.45am until 8pm and school holidays 5.45am until 8pm.
The sealing of Maria River Road would also see increased vehicular traffic utilising the ferry system, she added.
Association supports extended hours
North Side Progress Association president Kingsley Searle said the organisation supported the petition to extend the operating hours.
"Traffic has increased exponentially," he said. "People's habits have changed and are unlikely to return to "normal" because of COVID-19.
"The line-up for the ferries has become a major issue. There are delays virtually any time of the day.
"We seriously have to look at extending those hours on the Hibbard Ferry.
"We have an opportunity to solve this problem quite simply - just extend the hours."
Mr Searle said the association's long term strategy was to see heavier vehicles using Hibbard Ferry alongside the extended hours.
Ms Fox called for dialogue with council on the topic.
"It is important that our rates are spent wisely," she said.
"But we don't have much here (in terms of infrastructure). Council needs to meet us in the middle."
The petition can be found here.
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