On 22 May the NSW Transport Ministry released its 'Sydney's Ferry Future: new vessels, new wharves and more services' plan. Under this plan services to Balmain West Ferry Wharf a.k.a Elliott St Wharf will be discontinued in October this year along with services to Bayview Park Ferry Wharf in Concord.

At a time when traffic jams along Victoria Rd are a constant source of frustration for commuters the NSW government, in particular the Minister for Transport and the Minister for Roads and Ports, should be considering ways to improve public transport options rather than cutting services in this way.

The Balmain West Ferry Wharf service should be retained for the following reasons:

a) Elderly and less mobile locals utilise the ferry service to connect with the city and also buses at Balmain East Wharf;

b) Local commuters rely on this service to travel to work in the northern suburbs and the CBD even though the current service is a very limited and poorly timed commuter run only. Improving frequency of services is likely to improve patronage and, in turn, reduce demand on Balmain East Wharf thus negating the main argument for closure;

c) It forms an important historical link to Balmain's fading maritime history as it was originally built to get shipworkers across to Cockatoo Island as recently as the early 1980's;

d) The owners of the old Nutrimetics site are keen to develop this site which, if that were to happen, would create a huge increase in potential patrons.

To see the NSW Transport ministers plan for our ferries visit http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/sydneys-ferry-future-new-vessels-new-wharves-and-more-services

Please also consider contacting the Minister's office directly.
The contact details are:

Phone (02) 9228 5266
Fax (02) 9228 3744
office@berejiklian.minister.nsw.gov.au