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Davistown ferry set to resume

The Davistown ferry will resume service in October under the operation of Palm Beach Ferries.

The Minister for Transport Mr Carl Scully came to Woy Woy wharf last Thursday, June 13, to announce that authority had been granted to provide ferry services.

The Minister was accompanied by the Member for Peats Ms Marie Andrews and Gosford Mayor Cr Robert Bell.

"Palm Beach Ferries will run daily services between Woy Woy, Saratoga, Davistown and Empire Bay, resuming a service which ceased operating in August last year," Mr Scully said.

"This provides an important public transport option for an area which is experiencing an increase in population.

"It will provide commuters, families, tourists and others with improved access to a range of services."

Mr Scully said that he had received many requests for the restoration of the ferry service.

from Member for Peats Marie Andrews.

Ms Andrews said that she was pleased that the Government had given the green light for a return of services.

"This is good news for ferry commuters," Ms Andrews said.

"The new ferry will be a 24m catamaran, currently under construction in Queensland.

"It will be an environmentally-friendly low-wash vessel, with a capacity to carry 140 passengers."

Ms Andrews said that the ferry would operate 10 daily return journeys between Monday and Friday from Woy Woy to Davistown and six return journeys on weekends and public holidays, plus a number of one-way journeys from Woy Woy.

The Government go ahead for a new commuter ferry service is most welcome," said Cr Bell.

"Residents in Davistown, Empire Bay, and Saratoga will have the option of going to Woy Woy to catch the train or going to Woy Woy by ferry to do some shopping.

"This means a few less cars on the road and an alternative form of transport is provided to residents.

"The saving in time of residents not being on the road is significant.

"A trip from Davistown to Woy Woy takes 15 minutes by ferry and no car worries whereas to drive to Gosford is 15 to 20 minutes or Woy Woy 20 to 25 minutes and you have to leave the car in the carpark.

"Many more residents will be able to catch the ferry to work and leave the car at home," he said.

"The other big advantage of the new service is expanded tourist opportunities and potential linkage to a fast ferry from Ettalong to Sydney," Cr Bell said.

"I thank residents for constantly reminding me through letters, petitions and phone calls about the need for a ferry service and I congratulate them for achieving this outcome.

"The Minister has responded to the calls and personal representations we made to the Minister's office," he said.

"This is where I wanted to make sure bureaucracy and government didn't get in the way of services the community wanted and are prepared to pay for," said Mr Scully.

Palm Beach Ferry Service managing director Mr Peter Verrills said that the new ferry had been under construction for 11 weeks and another 13 weeks of construction is foreseen, with completion expected in mid-September.

Following trials, an October 1 launch is anticipated.

Robert Whiteman, June 13