NSW Government to deliver Parramatta ferry service

7 June 2009

NSW Premier Nathan Rees today announced the NSW Government would deliver a ferry service for commuters between Parramatta and the CBD.

An Expression of Interest process did not identify a proposal from the private sector to meet the Government and commuter needs, so the NSW Government has stepped in to deliver the service.

“This means people living and working in Parramatta will be able to catch a ferry directly to the city during peak hour,” Mr Rees said.

“It will be an hourly service operating from 7am to 7pm weekdays and 8am to 6pm on weekends.

“Parramatta is Sydney’s second CBD and the Government hopes this additional Ferry transport service will meet its growing needs.

“That’s why the NSW Government will invest $4 million a year over the next two years to deliver this new ferry service.

“The NSW Government has listened to local commuters and community and we have delivered accordingly.”

Detailed planning for the service will begin immediately and it is expected that the service will operate between Charles St Wharf in Parramatta and King St Wharf in the CBD.

Sydney Ferries will use RiverCats to provide the service, which is expected to take less than 55 minutes, depending on the need to put an interchange in place.

The RiverCats are usually deployed to other routes during the peaks and therefore Sydney Ferries will charter two vessels to replace them.

Minister for Transport David Campbell said the Government was very aware of environmental issues around running a commuter service in the upper section of the Parramatta River.

“The shallowness of that section of the river will not allow the RiverCats to travel any faster but travel times will be increased by implementing direct services and by using King St Wharf instead of Circular Quay,” Mr Campbell said.  

“The Ministry of Transport and Sydney Ferries are working closely together and I expect to see the new commuter ferry service between Parramatta and the CBD in operation for passengers by the end of the year.”