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Edition 429
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3 October 2017
Pursuit of ferry captain ‘cowardly act’, says Tesch The man at the helm of a ferry that ran aground in the Ettalong Channel is being investigated by NSW Roads and Maritime Services, according to Member for Gosford Ms Liesl Tesch. Ms Tesch has labelled the NSW Government’s pursuit of the captain of the ferry that ran aground on a sandbar in the silted up Ettalong Channel a “cowardly act”. The Palm Beach to Ettalong ferry was grounded in July and continues to be regularly diverted due to tidal patterns in the mouth of Brisbane Water, according to Ms Tesch. “This incident occurred only two weeks after the first round of emergency dredging was undertaken at the site,” Ms Tesch said. Ms Tesch said she was appalled at the attitude of the NSW Government. “If the NSW Government and RMS try to peg this failing on the driver when it’s likely to be due to the failure of the inadequate dredging, then that is a low act,” Ms Tesch said. “At every step of the way, this Liberal Government has shirked its responsibility to the community to create safe and navigable waterways,” she said. “I expect that the skipper will be exonerated at the end of this, and I hope that this investigation doesn’t leave a red mark on his record.” Ms Tesch said she wrote to the Minister for Planning, Mr Paul Toole, and Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Mr Scot MacDonald, in August to raise her concerns about the inadequate response from the Liberal Government. “It is unacceptable for the NSW Government to provide just $150,000 in funding, which was clearly not enough to do an appropriate job, and then walk away,” she said. “The NSW Government needs to urgently invest in a long term solution to this problem. “If the government is willing to put $10 million over four years to fund dredging on the North Coast,
then they can’t keep saying it’s a local government issue only. “We have a new Council and the NSW Liberal Government needs to come back to the table and negotiate in good faith to get this issue sorted.” Ms Tesch thanked Fantasea Cruises and their staff for their flexibility during this disruptive time, and commended them for keeping commuters and tourists on the move despite recent regular diversions to Patonga. The current situation has created an atmosphere of uncertainty in the local area with businesses, commuters and tourists fearing for the future of the waterway, she said. “If suitable dredging is not carried out immediately, incidents like this will become commonplace.” Ms Tesch said Mr MacDonald had to do more than make piecemeal offerings to the Coast and to step up and fight for our community in Government. “The Government cannot ignore the adverse effect this issue is having on the day-today lives, and livelihoods, of ferry operators, commuters, tourists and commercial fisherman who rely on this crucial waterway,” Ms Tesch said. “If Scot MacDonald is serious about being the Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, then he actually needs to knock on those doors next to his in Macquarie St and get the funding the Coast needs. “If the channel remains in its current state, there is a very serious risk of harm to recreational and commercial vessels as well as the potential for irrevocable damage to the confidence of local operators. “We need to work to promote our strong tourism industry and ensure there are no barriers to businesses that rely on the channel to operate.” The NSW Government announced an additional $160,000 in emergency dredging the day after Ms Tesch’s statements. SOURCE: Media release, 21 Sep 2017 Richard Mehrtens, Office of Liesl Tesch MP
Ettalong Channel dredging resumed on September 25 Photo: Julian Bowker
Criminal investigation instigated against ferry skipper A Palm Beach ferry skipper “is being criminally investigated” for coming into contact with a sandbank in the Ettalong Channel, according to ferry operator Fantasea Cruising. “On July 27, our vessel attempted to enter the channel on its way to Wagstaffe for the first collection of the day,” Fantasea Palm Beach acting chief Ms Wendy Harch has stated in a letter to local residents on September 13. “The vessel, while attempting to enter the channel, came into contact with the sand bank.” The service wax diverted to Patonga for the remainder of that day. “Fantasea Cruising Palm Beach is not prepared to expose its ferry skippers to criminal prosecution for an event that occurred because the channel is not being properly maintained,” Ms Harch said. She said that during the 13 years Fantasea had been operating the ferry service between Palm Beach and Ettalong and Wagstaffe
the channel area from Little Box Head to the Ettalong terminal had gradually been silting up. “This has resulted, on occasion, in ferries having to be diverted to Patonga when the ferry is unable to safely navigate the market channel,” she said. “Whilst we take every precaution to ensure that there is communication with the public when there is a need to change the ferry stops, we are very aware of the inconvenience and additional travel time that this causes to residents. “Fantasea… is very committed to providing local residents with a safe and reliable ferry service. “However, it is the NSW Government’s obligation and duty to maintain the marked channel so that it is safe for vessels to navigate. “It is with the safety of our passengers in mind that the decision to divert the ferry is made. “We have also communicated with the NSW Government regarding the state of the channel
on previous occasions and the channel has also been the subject of some local media attention. “We are aware that the NSW Government has undertaken some interim dredging on the channel this year however this issue has not been resolved. “Attempts to operate the ferry service are continually becoming frustrated by the additional sand in the channel,” she said. The letter from Ms Harch called on residents to contact their local MP and the media in support of urgent dredging of the channel. She said the ferry operator had requested the NSW Government conduct further urgent dredging of the marked channel to ensure it was safe for the ferry to use. “We have advised that until the dredging takes place we will continue to divert the ferry stop to Patonga in all situations where it appears that the ferry may be unable to enter the channel,” Ms Harch said. SOURCE: Letter, 13 Sep 2017 Wendy Harch, Fantasea Cruising
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