Next ferry stop: Glebe
BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS
If you don’t like the way the table is set, turn over the table.
Or so is the thinking behind the latest plan to provide more public transport to Glebe by waterway rather than high way.
Local Greens MP Jamie Parker has started a petition to gain support for the current Balmain Ferry service to stop in Glebe.
“Imagine being able to hop on a ferry at Glebe and within minutes being on our beautiful harbour at Circular Quay instead of sitting on a bus fighting the congested roads in peak hour traffic.”
“Whilst the Labor and Liberal parties continue to support multi-billion dollar tollways the Greens are working for common sense alternatives that will benefit the community and deliver real results.”
Mr Parker told City Hub that the idea was not a new one and has been floating around for the past ten years or so.
He said the first major hurdle was persuading the government to investigate things such as projected patronage numbers and understanding the issues.
“We know that the water is deep enough, and you have to construct an appropriate wharf, there are no infrastructure obstacles in that regard,” he told City Hub.
“We’re putting up this idea, we’re exploring feedback, understanding issues, consulting with the maritime union because we have to build up support,” he said.
“We don’t see that parking wouldn’t be a major issue, areas similar to Glebe such as Balmain and Birchgrove don’t have parking problems.
“Ferries do not attract commuters from other areas but we know that ferries act as really strong tourism attractors.”
He said that the idea of running a ferry has been proven to be viable, but the political will was lacking.
Murray Jewell, who chairs the transport subcommittee at the Glebe Society said the idea was in its early stages.
“As a general proposition, the Glebe Society is for public transport, but there could be resistance amongst locals, as there could be parking difficulties if people were going to park their cars to catch the ferry.”
President of the Glebe Chamber of Commerce, Kris Spann, said that the plan for the ferry had been in discussion since the 1970s.
“It’s a recurring thing the community wants, but no government has ever delivered,” he said.
He said that the ferry would connect the 3,000 odd residents that live in the new Harold Park development.
“We’ve got a beautiful park at that end, it will be a way for people from the city to come and see what is happening in Glebe.
He said Glebe residents would benefit from the speed that the ferry could offer.
“It will be faster than the light rail, the light rail does a huge dog leg to Ultimo and the casino. Even the bus at the moment with the closure of George Street, is quite a wobbly way to get to the city.
“It would almost be reverse tourism, a lot of Glebe people will go events in City such as Vivid a lot more easily,” he said.
