With the long weekend now over, questions remain as to why ferry services between Palm Beach and Wagstaffe have not resumed following the dredging of the Ettalong Channel.
Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch has called on the Minns Government to provide answers to the community, expressing concern that dredging has not been done correctly.
“With dredging now complete, the government was quick to pat themselves on the back saying job well done and ferry services would be back to normal on the 4th of October.
“Ferry services were due to resume yesterday and there’s one thing missing – the ferry between Palm Beach and Wagstaffe.”
Mr Crouch said with the ferry operator unable to confirm when normal services between Palm Beach and Wagstaffe will resume, the scope of the dredging of the channel appears to have not been sufficient.
“It’s clear now that with Fantasea Palm Beach ferries unable to resume services and many concerned boaties contacting my office, dredging of the Ettalong Channel was inadequately done.”
“There’s been a total lack of communication and transparency from the Minister for Transport on this issue, and it’s simply not acceptable for the community.”
With no information publicly available on the ferry services and dredging, Mr Crouch said he was concerned that services will not resume for several weeks.
“What we’re hearing now is that the ferry services will continue to be diverted to Patonga during low tide, which means commuters will now need to take into account tidal movements when planning for their journeys.”
“This is totally unacceptable to our community, and the State Government needs to provide answers as to why the dredging has not been done correctly and when a full regular commuter ferry service will resume.”