Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch has called on the State Government to provide a timeline for future dredging of the Ettalong channel, with ferry services again disrupted this week.
On June 4, Fantasea Palm Beach Ferries announced on its Facebook page that the 2pm Palm Beach to Ettalong and Wagstaffe service would be cancelled due to a dropping tide and a newly-formed sand bar in the channel.
The next day, it announced the Ettalong and Wagstaffe service would operate under a Diversion timetable for at least a week as large tides and shifting sand bars continued to provide problems, with all services to depart from Patonga instead of Ettalong and Wagstaffe and an update to be given on June 13.
Crouch said concerned constituents had been approaching his office about the disruption and emphasised the importance of the continued dredging in the channel.
“Since the State Government took over management of the channel back in 2021, we have seen a general improvement in frequency of crossings between Wagstaffe and Palm Beach,” he said.
“However, with weather patterns and tides affecting services for the next week, it is important that the State Labor Government come to the table and provide a timeline on the scope of works for dredging of the channel.”
Crouch said his office had already made representations to the Maritime Infrastructure Delivery Office, the authority responsible for dredging of the channel, as well as Minister for Transport Jo Haylen.
“While the cancellation of services between Wagstaffe and Palm Beach are inconvenient for residents, passenger safety is of the utmost importance for the ferry operator and that is why these cancellations can occur,” he said.
Crouch said he will continue to call on the State Government to ensure that the channel is safe for ferry passage throughout the year.
Terry Collins
Should have dredge here all the time