Bad decision for the environment, fast ferries essential if we are to get cars off the road. I wonder how many commuters will opt for wheels instead of the slower ferry trip.

Whenyou think it couldn't get any worse. Fast Manly-Sydney services have been an iconic part of Sydney for 30 years. This destroys sustainability (more cars on roads), jobs (Sydney Ferries employees) and faith in government serving the people of this state rather than short-termism (created by financial mis-management). Lets fight this through people-power and flood the minister with our view on this decision.

Surely the State Government should offer this service to the private sector rather than just scrap it! This could provide a litmus test to see who are interested in taking on a ferry licence. The private sector may have to raise fares to offer a first class service but so be it! They may select a more suitable craft for the short run too.

This state government is an absolute disgrace. We're already under-serviced so far as transport options go (never mind health, education and all the rest of it) and this decision guarantees more cars will add to the already horrendous congestion on our roads.

I agree Colin - the Jet Cats are totally unsuitable for the task they are expected to do - whoever was behind the decision to buy them is a disgrace

Digby always good to hear from you ... I think anyone who has been running the service for almost 14 years has probably (!!!!) assumed responsibility by this point ... With 27% less is spent on maintenance then it doesn't take einstein to work out that reliability will run down ... It is a management issue and they know it! 
Cheers 
Mike

The jetcats stopped being a fast service during peak hours a long time ago. Go to Manly wharf any morning, or Circular Quay in the evening, and you'll see people arriving 10 - 15 minutes early to make sure they can get on - then a minimum 15 minutes for the trip plus 5 minutes to get off. It's not hard to do the sums. With the ferry service you get to the wharf 3 minutes before the departure time, walk on at your leisure and have a quick exit at the other end. In other words around 35 minutes for the jetcat or ferry. Lets get more ferries to cope with the increasing population - come to think of it more buses will help too. Ferries departing every 20 minutes would be fantastic.

Our Jet Cats are howling in protest ; not purring ! 
 
MANLY traditionally described as “SEVEN miles from Sydney and a thousand miles from care…….” is rapidly becoming an obsolete nostalgic reminiscence in the modern era. 
This picturesque platitude may as well be reversed as far as the State Government is concerned ; under their increasing mismanagement we are becoming ‘ a thousand miles from Sydney and apparently no-one cares’ as they threaten to “axe the essential JetCat service” whilst reducing bus transport routes and the Spit Bridge bottle-neck remains an unsolved continuing debacle after decades of empty promises from self-interested politicians. There appears to be no light at the end of the tunnel….. Indeed, no tunnel in sight just a lot of noisy Ostrich’s with their heads firmly buried in the sand. 
How much more isolation and frustration are the long-suffering residents of the Northern Beaches supposed to endure in silence as they attempt to commute daily to the CBD of Sydney? 
In an era when public transport should be enhanced and encouraged to discourage the use of private motor vehicles with environmental issues and green-house gas emissions being a major concern to all why is anyone irrationally suggesting the JetCat service be terminated? …… How is this good governance to reduce essential public transport services in the hope of obtaining a better balance sheet, short-term fix with long term consequences! 
 
The unhealthy ‘bottom line’ and fiscal losses cannot be effectively resolved by hastily “cutting off our nose to spite our face” ! It’s like putting band-aids on Cancer. 
Leave our Jet Cats alone and look towards improving the management and maintenance of such essential transport services rather than allowing your haemorrhaging budget to force such ridiculous propositions.  
Ahoy there, Premier Nathan Rees and Transport Minister David Campbell ~ it’s simply not good enough ~ you need to shape up your leadership or ship out of office! 
 
Michelle Sas 
Manly Cove

Mike and All - Not only is the Ferry Service (or non)service) essential to Manly and the lower Northern Beaches at least but ferry services in general should hve broader usage on Sydney Harbour and its river systems. Moreover with the sort of ferries capable ofbeing built in WA and Tasmania that are already operating in open sea routes, there is certainly scope for ferry services from Newcastle, Gosford and Wollongong andin between. 
 
On the Manly run I would suggest thst most Cities would give anything to have and maintain such tourist icons as the old ferries still in service. So let's keep them especially because they can earn good dollars. 
 
It's probably the case that Jetcats or something like are vital to peak hour business travellers so somehow a substitute has to be built that can do the trip in 15 mins or less. 
 
But even more use would be amde of ferries if Manly and otehr Councils and the State government could develop parking/ride and just parking services for ferry travellers. regards carlo bongarzoni

What disgusts me most is that these SOCIALISTS have to find $90 million a day to run the State of NSW and when they need to sell off assets, they look to THE NORTHERN BEACHES. -  
 
First it was COLLAROY CHILDRENS hospital WHERE THEY STOLE THE MONEY and put it in consolidated revenue despite the hospital origianlly being given solely for rehabilitation of the disabled. They they sold off the $50,million dollar beacon Hill High school - costing 50 mill to replace and they only got 5.2 million out of the sale yet the developer stands to make $20 million from the sale of 29 properties. 
 
Seaforth tafe is next for the chopping block even though residents voted in a landslide victory that they wanted it reoponed along with the UNIONS and all POLITICAL PARTIES LIBERAL AND LABOR passed motions to reopen the Tafe and the tafe has TRADE UNION BANS ON IT PROTECTING IT.........I guess THE people of NSW got what they deserved when they voted for LABOR...HARD LABOR.

hi mike - thanks for raising the issue but it sounds like you might think this is lost? I really hope you and your team can help to rally some response against this decision. I went into your office the day this was in the media and the office staff knew nothing about it and what response was planned. These kind of decisions happen because of a lack of community outcry. As our local member I hope there is a plan (along with your colleagues in Manly Council) to rally the community to show we dont want this. Is there a plan? Are your staff on the jetcats each morning getting signatures on a petition? How about an event in parliament house for manly businesses who recognise the value of good public transport to sustain manly? I support the jetcat as a parent - its the faster service that allows manly parents to get home faster if needed. I am also extremely concerned the decision will lead to more cars on the road. We are ready and willing to help rally the residents mike - we just need you to help facilitate the action! cheers, anna

Anna, we are mobilising the troops and won't give this up without a big fight... 
cheers 
Mike