Central Coast Ferries, a family business which has been operating for more than 20 years on Brisbane Water, is fuming after Transport for NSW appointed a Sydney-based charter boat operator to provide emergency ferry services between Wagstaffe and Ettalong.
The contract for ferry services eventuated after operators of the Palm Beach Ferry Service suspended its Wagstaffe and Ettalong services last month due to shallow sands in the Ettalong Channel.
Central Coast Ferries say they were asked to provide a quote for a ferry shuttle at Wagstaffe – only to be ignored and find out the tender had been given to a Sydney operator.
“We’ve been dealing with Transport for NSW for a long time and we have a good relationship with them,” said Central Coast Ferries proprietor George Conway.
“I don’t know why that department didn’t support us.”
Transport for NSW said it had contacted a range of companies which could provide an interim ferry service between Wagstaffe and Ettalong.
“The company we chose for this service offered the taxpayers of NSW the best value for money in terms of suitability of vessel, timeframes and costs,” the spokesperson said.
Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch was made aware of the situation.
“Why would you turn down the offer of a fantastic local company?” he said.
“I call on the government to fix this.”
David Abrahams
Labor govt thought they supported workers!
A few questions did the suspended operator put in the keenest quote. Did the operator talk much to the dept of transport?.
Keep the Central Coast ferries doing the ferry work Mr minns.
Not nice 2 take the contract off them.
Absolutely disgusting.
central coast ferries do an amazing job with our ferry service and at the moment due once again to council and state government incompetence they are unable to operate due to silting. This is on going and CCF are the lovers once again with a halt to services.
why oh why would you put out a tender when this is CCF route. bloody beaurocrats. How you keep your jobs is puzzling
this is a long dispute….for long time only talk and never find a solution…the ferry is necessary for a lot of.people…..fix the problem..