Ferry passengers will have four new routes when private operators begin extra peak services as part of the Fixing Sydney Ferries program, Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Roads and Ports Duncan Gay announced today.

Ms Berejiklian said the NSW Government had enabled the private sector to run the extra services following an expression of interest process in August which called for proposals to use Circular Quay Wharf 6 and other Sydney Harbour wharves during peak periods.

The new routes are:

• Manly – Milsons Point - Darling Harbour

(Three AM and three PM peak services, provided by Manly Fast Ferry);

• Kirribilli – Rose Bay – Milsons Point – Darling Harbour

(Two AM and three PM peak services, provided by Sydney Fast Ferries);

• Pyrmont – Darling Harbour – Circular Quay – Balmain East (loop)

(Three AM and two PM peak services, provided by Sydney Fast Ferries);

• Balmain West – Woolwich – Greenwich Point – Birchgrove – Darling Harbour (Three AM and two PM peak services, provided by Sydney Fast Ferries)

In addition to these new routes, both Manly Fast Ferry and Sydney Fast Ferries have received approval to use Wharf 6 to provide more services on the Manly to Circular Quay route. Captain Cook Cruises will continue to run its existing services on the Lane Cove River from Wharf 6.

“This is great news for ferry passengers who will now have more services and an expanded range of routes from which to choose,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“Sydney Harbour is an uncongested highway of opportunity, and we encourage people to get out of their cars and take advantage of these new ferry services.

“These new services are fully commercial, operating at no cost to taxpayers, so the operators have control over fares and ticketing, as is currently the case with private operators on the Manly route.

“It is up to the operators to market these new services and their continued operation will be dependent on support from passengers.

“This is about giving customers more options during the busy peak and offering the private sector a chance to demonstrate what can be achieved.”

Mr Gay said the new services were a victory for common sense.

“This is a win-win: the operators get to provide the public with more ferry services and the spare capacity at Wharf 6 is used during the peak periods,” Mr Gay said.

“Without the involvement of the private sector and the good work from Roads and Maritime Services, the spare capacity would have continued to be wasted.

“I am very pleased Roads and Maritime Services and Transport for NSW have been able to work with the private sector on an outcome that is best for everyone and cut through the regulatory red tape that can hamper the introduction of new services.”

The operators will be responsible for determining when the new services begin and updates will be provided as the details of new services are determined over the coming months. Wharf access will be initially offered on three month renewable agreements.

“This is another milestone as the NSW Government continues to reform ferry services,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“Already as part of the Fixing Sydney’s Ferries program the NSW Government has developed a short list of firms to run Sydney Ferries, re-introduced 140 services that were cut by Labor and introduced 25 new ferry services on the Parramatta River.”

To see the routes on a map, click HERE.

Media: Lisa Mullins (Minister Berejiklian) 0467 733 752 or Emma Logan (Minister Gay) 0467 741 049 

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