Ferry fees were initially waived until April 30, 2021 to provide efficient movement across the Hastings River to assist in the flood clean-up.

That was later extended until the Hibbard ferry is reintroduced into service but motorists without an annual pass or resident concession sticker took advantage of the fee waiver, which created extra traffic.

Peta Pinson raised the issue in a mayoral minute at the May 19 meeting of Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.

Councillors unanimously agreed to reinstate the ferry fees for motorists without a resident concession sticker or annual pass.

Northside Progress Association president Kingsley Searle said that would help reduce traffic and it was much appreciated by residents.

He added many flood-damaged cars were towed away and the resident concession stickers went with them, so there needed to be an acknowledgement of those residents.

The Settlement Point Ferry provides the only vehicle access across the Hastings River to the North Shore while the Hibbard Ferry is being serviced.

The council will continue to waive ferry fees for motorists holding a resident concession sticker or annual pass until June 30, 2021.

Cr Pinson said the mayoral minute came off the back of several complaints from residents about the community taking advantage of the free ferry services.

"What it is doing is actually creating quite a bit of traffic over in the North Shore area and it is causing all sorts of angst for the recovery over there for residents," Cr Pinson said.

She said it was also causing lengthy wait times and ferry queues.

Cr Rob Turner said he was under the impression the council waived the fees to facilitate quicker ferry loading and unloading.

He said they would go back to delays associated with taking money from motorists without a resident concession sticker or annual pass.

Cr Pinson replied: "This comes off the back of requests from community in relation to the ferry being used free of charge by day-trippers and people coming over to use the ferry for free.

"I am responding to what our community is telling us."

Deputy mayor Lisa Intemann said she understood the concerns raised by Cr Turner.

But said she the advantages outweighed the disadvantages, at this point in time, because it would enable speedier transit and also give the advantage to residents rather than day-trippers.

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