PORT Macquarie-Hastings Council's CEO will seek advice on the future of ferry services from state members and discuss potential options for alternative crossings of the Hastings and Maria rivers.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The discussion will complement council engagement with Hibbard ferry users on requests to review the operational hours of the service due to increased waiting times and queuing at the Settlement Point ferry.
The Hibbard ferry is currently undergoing its out of water slipping service which is expected to take six weeks.
The matter of ferry hours was brought to the February ordinary meeting of council.
A report will come back to the April meeting after CEO Dr Clare Allen has had an opportunity to discuss state funding for alternative crossings with Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams and Member for Oxley Melinda Pavey.
The Settlement Point Ferry currently operates 24/7. In comparison, the Hibbard Ferry operates from 6.30am-9.50am and 2.45pm-6.50pm Monday to Friday and 8am-6.50pm on weekends and public holidays.
During the school holidays, the Hibbard Ferry hours are extended to 6.30am-6.50pm Monday to Friday.
Councillors expressed concerns that the data presented at the February councillor briefing did not support a trial of extended hours. They have requested more information on the key community concerns and supporting data before making a decision.
During the Hibbard Ferry slipping, council has an opportunity to undertake further monitoring and community engagement at the Settlement Point Ferry to provide indicative data on ferry usage and issues.
Mayor Peta Pinson unsuccessfully pushed for a six-week trial of extended ferry services to be conducted now, noting the "growing angst" of North Shore residents, other ferry users and property owners along Settlement Point Drive who share concerns about growing congestion and safety issues.
The request for a trial, she said, came directly from the community.
"This is a request by the community and also the North Shore Progress Association and numerous other community members," Cr Pinson said.
"The amount of traffic going to and coming from the North Shore is quite extensive now. What we're effectively doing is moving this volume of traffic along Settlement Point Road which is narrow, abutted by the river, pedestrians walk on that road, and it's a holiday hotspot as far as the use of the reserve at the end of Settlement Point Road.
"People are having trouble at the Hibbard Ferry end actually meeting their lifestyle commitments - taking kids to school, making appointments, getting to work.
"Settlement Point ferry is primarily the number one ferry, but we have to recognise we are planning an upgrade to Maria River Road and more traffic is going to come from our neighbours in north Kempsey and that's going to put extra pressure on.
"We have to be visionary and ask when is the time coming when we look for an alternative to ferry services."
Cr Peter Alley said the decision to hold off on a trial is not procrastinating, but a step toward gathering all the necessary information to make an informed decision.
Cr Rob Turner agreed.
"I think it's the putting together the information we need to uncover with what do have that will give us a much clearer picture of what the problem is and we will then come to a good solution the whole community can share in," he said.
The two ferry services currently cost council $2 million to operate annually.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark our website
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- You can support us with a subscription
- Follow us on Twitter: @portmacnews
- Follow us on Instagram: @portmacnews
- Follow us on Google News