As ferry services to Palm Beach remain diverted from Ettalong and Wagstaffe to Patonga, a secondary shuttle service between Wagstaffe and Ettalong will operate from Monday, July 10.
Ferry pick-ups at Wagstaffe and Ettalong have been diverted to Patonga for weeks due to shifting sands in Ettalong channel as the State Government works on organising an emergency dredge.
After passengers were left high and dry for over a week with no public transport options to connect with Patonga ferry arrivals and departures, a shuttle service between Ettalong and Patonga was introduced on June19, leaving Wagstaffe passengers to find their own way to Ettalong to take advantage of the service.
Transport for NSW has now come to the party with a secondary service from Wagstaffe to connect with the Ettalong shuttle.
The new shuttle service will operate on weekdays between 6.15am and 8.45am to connect with morning ferries and between 4pm and 7pm for the return journey.
On weekends it will operate between 9am and 6pm, connecting with all Palm Beach ferried except the 8am service.
It will leave Wagstaffe Wharf 45 minutes prior to the Palm Beach ferry’s departure time from Patonga.
On the return journey, it will leave Ettalong Wharf 35 minutes after the Palm Beach ferry’s arrival time at Patonga wharf.
Meanwhile, Transport for NSW is planning to dredge the Ettalong Channel in August and is currently seeking all necessary licence and environmental approvals.
Fantasea Palm Beach Ferries continues to monitor the condition of the channel and will resume the Ettalong/Wagstaffe service when it is safe to do so.
Source:
Transport for NSW