Perth yacht clubs fear forced closure and warn of dangers of expanding ferry service

The state government’s ambitious plans to expand Perth’s ferry service, which currently only crosses a short stretch of the Swan River from south Perth to Elizabeth Quay, would be dangerous and disruptive to river users, sailing clubs have warned.

The Public Transport Authority (PTA) is considering adding 13 new stops, including Matilda Bay near the University of Western Australia (UWA) and Applecross at Raffles Pier.

Perth Dinghy Sailing Club vice-commodore Chelsea Baker believes the proposed ferry terminal at Matilda Bay is a major safety issue and will force the closure of several local sports clubs.

“We are totally against it, security is a very important factor here,” he said.

The electric ferries would be 25 meters long, travel at 20 knots and operate every 15 to 30 minutes, with the capacity to carry more than 130 passengers.

Other stops being investigated are at Point Fraser, Burswood Park, Perth Stadium and Claisebrook Cove, with stops at Belmont, Belmont Park, Rivervale, Maylands and Canning Bridge being considered in the future.

Three Shipping Container Terminal Size

Matilda Bay is a key area under the proposal due to the projected increase in UWA student and staff numbers.

But Ms Baker wants the government to consider other locations to serve the area, given the proposed terminal is about 100 meters from her club.

“If there are ferries coming from Matilda Bay and then to Elizabeth Quay, they will cross our shipping route area and our start and finish lines, so there will be more traffic on the river,” he said.

He said the size of the 80-metre jetty and loading station was not suitable for that area of ​​the river.

“That area is a Class A reserve right now, and now they want to build a structure there the size of three shipping containers,” Ms. Baker said.

UWA Boat Club’s Megan Bagworth echoed the safety concerns, citing the club’s large cohort of young and novice paddlers.

“We were shocked when we first learned where they were proposing ferry service,” he said.

“There have been boats that have flooded, broken up and rowers ended up in the water as a result of the washout, and unfortunately, with the location that has been indicated, it is virtually inevitable that the washout will impact us significantly.”

reach a compromise

While not opposed to more ferry routes, Bagworth said he also wants the government to consider other locations for the UWA terminal and more community consultation to ensure all risks are considered.

“We know that ferries can coexist with other water users. It’s about having that distance that guarantees the safety of all water users,” he said.

Yachting WA president Emily Jones said while there were issues with the proposal, she wants to work with the government to reach a compromise.

“We are happy to support the proposal, working together with the department just to clarify some of the issues,” he said.

“We can determine the best route and schedule and what type of racing area we can potentially use so those clubs are not as affected.”

‘An untapped opportunity’

While yacht clubs are concerned, urban designers see the benefits of potentially taking more cars off the roads.

“Perth is one of the most car-dependent cities on the planet,” said Australian Urban Design Research Center director Julian Bolleter.

“We can see that every day in Perth with the congestion there is and the emissions associated with that.”

He welcomed any opportunity to diversify the city’s transportation options.

“Will ferries be the panacea that solves the problems of a car-dependent city? No, but they could be part of a combination of solutions that are important in the future,” said Dr Bolleter.

He described Perth’s ferry system as much less developed than those in Sydney or Brisbane, but believes that in the long term the expanded service would benefit the denser urban nodes along the river as they continue to grow, such as the development of the Burswood Peninsula.

“That could mean thousands of potential travelers could access the city by ferry,” he said.

“I think it’s an untapped opportunity. It’s also a form of public transportation that can be really enjoyable.

Make the correct equation

The state government has cited a recent rise in ferry patronage to justify an expanded service, with a new high of 871,000 boardings recorded in 2023-24, a 16 per cent increase on the previous record of 747,881 in 2016-17.

In a statement, Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the expansion would be implemented in stages, initially focusing on stops close to the CBD.

“I think there has always been a strong desire within the Perth community to see an expanded ferry service and the Swan River better used as a means of transport,” he said.

“Finding the right equation has been a challenge in the past, but the big difference we are seeing now is a huge amount of new high-density development occurring in areas along the riverfront.”

The community consultation period ended on Friday and feedback was incorporated into the government’s feasibility study.