❓ Question regarding consultation on the proposed Applecross to Nedlands ferry route and water safety concerns. Minister responds defensively, highlighting support for the project and questioning the opposition's negativity.
AnsweredQoN 212Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Swan River ferry service
212. Mr Peter Rundle to
the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the
proposed ferry expansion project and proposed terminal locations for the
Applecross to Nedlands route and safety concerns raised by user groups in
Matilda Bay, such as disability sporting, Sailability WA, the UWA Boat Club, the
Shenton College Rowing Club, the Perth Dinghy Sailing Club and various other
sailing clubs.
Does the minister
think it is appropriate that user groups have been largely excluded from any
consultation process and have in fact had to lodge three freedom of information
requests to gain information on risk assessments and evaluations on water safety
risks?
212. Mr Peter Rundle to
the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the
proposed ferry expansion project and proposed terminal locations for the
Applecross to Nedlands route and safety concerns raised by user groups in
Matilda Bay, such as disability sporting, Sailability WA, the UWA Boat Club, the
Shenton College Rowing Club, the Perth Dinghy Sailing Club and various other
sailing clubs.
Does the minister
think it is appropriate that user groups have been largely excluded from any
consultation process and have in fact had to lodge three freedom of information
requests to gain information on risk assessments and evaluations on water safety
risks?
AnswerView source ↗
I am very proud that
after decades of people talking about it, we are delivering, for the first time,
an expanded ferry system for Western Australia. The member for Bateman is very
excited, as is the member for South Perth. They are very, very excited local
members. Very excited. Of course, because it is public transport, the Liberal
Party and National Party do not like it. Even though it will improve services
in some of their electorates, they have turned
their backs, member for Nedlands, on their constituents because they rejected
our plans for a new ferry service.
In relation to the
consultation, there was a workshop with the key user groups and a multicriteria
analysis is being undertaken—
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: If you have a question, member, wait your
turn and you might get to ask it.
Ms Rita Saffioti: There was a workshop with the key
stakeholders and a multicriteria analysis is being undertaken. There will be
another workshop on the proposed site of the ferry stop at the University of
Western Australia. When the proposed site was identified—there were a
number of proposed sites—the team was initially working on a proposal that
the UWA prepared, which was a master plan for the area. That plan had a ferry terminal
adjacent to the rowing shed. We understand that is not acceptable and that it will
not be going forward, but we are working with the team on the proposed site.
What I do not understand is that everywhere else around the world and in other
parts of Australia they can have a ferry service and other boats and
watercraft. If members go to Sydney or Brisbane, they will see that a public
ferry system and private use on the water seem to coexist. One of the images
that was sent to me was a rowboat crashing into a ferry. I am sorry, but I
think the public is sick of hearing that this is too hard and that it should
not happen and no-one should be in this water space because some people do not
want other people to share it. I know that some people do not like public
transport or the good people of the suburbs being able to access UWA more easily,
but we do; we want to give our young people the opportunity to access UWA and
make it quicker and more efficient.
Does the member
really think that Western Australians are too stupid to have a ferry system and
private watercraft at the same time? Does he really believe it is beyond our
wit and capacity to have a ferry system and private use? The opposition is so negative
about us and our capacity. I think we are smart enough. I do not think people intentionally
crash into each other on the water. I really believe that. I actually think we are
smart enough and sophisticated enough to have a ferry system and private use. I
think that. The member might think that Western Australians are too dumb to run
a ferry system and private watercraft. He may think that, but I am positive; I
think we are smart enough. Are we saying that people in Sydney are smarter than
us?
Several members
interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: The opposition is saying that people
in Sydney are sophisticated enough to have rowing, watercraft and a ferry. Even
in South Perth, the rowing is currently in close proximity to the ferry.
Mr Paul Papalia: How do they do that?
Ms Rita Saffioti: How do they do that? What a miracle!
It is a miracle, members. Honestly. We have marinas and activities in Hillarys.
In some places, they can coexist. The Rottnest ferry interacts with other boats.
Somehow that can happen.
Mr Roger Cook: Imagine if they'd put the Bell
Tower in the middle of it!
Ms Rita Saffioti: Imagine what the Bell Tower would do
for navigation!
Several members
interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: The Bell Tower would really upset
everybody.
I do not think that
Queenslanders and New South Welsh people are smarter than Western Australians.
I do not think that. The Liberal and National Parties think that it is somehow difficult
to run a ferry system in a river that, let us face it, is not tiny—it
is quite big. We are confident that we have the ability and the smarts to
actually have a ferry system in the water. I think that is a good thing. I am
pretty proud that it is a WA Labor government that is once again delivering on
projects that people only talked about. Even the former member for South Perth
would say every time we met in the corridor, "Rita, you really need to get
those ferries up." The former member for South Perth was passionate about
ferries. As I said, if it means that our residents in the suburbs can get
access to UWA and there is quicker and more efficient travel for people in members'
electorates, that is a good thing.
Ms Kim Giddens: It's a great thing.
Ms Rita Saffioti: It is a great thing, and I am
excited to deliver this project. It is one of the iconic projects in the
transport portfolio that is under my control.
after decades of people talking about it, we are delivering, for the first time,
an expanded ferry system for Western Australia. The member for Bateman is very
excited, as is the member for South Perth. They are very, very excited local
members. Very excited. Of course, because it is public transport, the Liberal
Party and National Party do not like it. Even though it will improve services
in some of their electorates, they have turned
their backs, member for Nedlands, on their constituents because they rejected
our plans for a new ferry service.
In relation to the
consultation, there was a workshop with the key user groups and a multicriteria
analysis is being undertaken—
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: If you have a question, member, wait your
turn and you might get to ask it.
Ms Rita Saffioti: There was a workshop with the key
stakeholders and a multicriteria analysis is being undertaken. There will be
another workshop on the proposed site of the ferry stop at the University of
Western Australia. When the proposed site was identified—there were a
number of proposed sites—the team was initially working on a proposal that
the UWA prepared, which was a master plan for the area. That plan had a ferry terminal
adjacent to the rowing shed. We understand that is not acceptable and that it will
not be going forward, but we are working with the team on the proposed site.
What I do not understand is that everywhere else around the world and in other
parts of Australia they can have a ferry service and other boats and
watercraft. If members go to Sydney or Brisbane, they will see that a public
ferry system and private use on the water seem to coexist. One of the images
that was sent to me was a rowboat crashing into a ferry. I am sorry, but I
think the public is sick of hearing that this is too hard and that it should
not happen and no-one should be in this water space because some people do not
want other people to share it. I know that some people do not like public
transport or the good people of the suburbs being able to access UWA more easily,
but we do; we want to give our young people the opportunity to access UWA and
make it quicker and more efficient.
Does the member
really think that Western Australians are too stupid to have a ferry system and
private watercraft at the same time? Does he really believe it is beyond our
wit and capacity to have a ferry system and private use? The opposition is so negative
about us and our capacity. I think we are smart enough. I do not think people intentionally
crash into each other on the water. I really believe that. I actually think we are
smart enough and sophisticated enough to have a ferry system and private use. I
think that. The member might think that Western Australians are too dumb to run
a ferry system and private watercraft. He may think that, but I am positive; I
think we are smart enough. Are we saying that people in Sydney are smarter than
us?
Several members
interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: The opposition is saying that people
in Sydney are sophisticated enough to have rowing, watercraft and a ferry. Even
in South Perth, the rowing is currently in close proximity to the ferry.
Mr Paul Papalia: How do they do that?
Ms Rita Saffioti: How do they do that? What a miracle!
It is a miracle, members. Honestly. We have marinas and activities in Hillarys.
In some places, they can coexist. The Rottnest ferry interacts with other boats.
Somehow that can happen.
Mr Roger Cook: Imagine if they'd put the Bell
Tower in the middle of it!
Ms Rita Saffioti: Imagine what the Bell Tower would do
for navigation!
Several members
interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: The Bell Tower would really upset
everybody.
I do not think that
Queenslanders and New South Welsh people are smarter than Western Australians.
I do not think that. The Liberal and National Parties think that it is somehow difficult
to run a ferry system in a river that, let us face it, is not tiny—it
is quite big. We are confident that we have the ability and the smarts to
actually have a ferry system in the water. I think that is a good thing. I am
pretty proud that it is a WA Labor government that is once again delivering on
projects that people only talked about. Even the former member for South Perth
would say every time we met in the corridor, "Rita, you really need to get
those ferries up." The former member for South Perth was passionate about
ferries. As I said, if it means that our residents in the suburbs can get
access to UWA and there is quicker and more efficient travel for people in members'
electorates, that is a good thing.
Ms Kim Giddens: It's a great thing.
Ms Rita Saffioti: It is a great thing, and I am
excited to deliver this project. It is one of the iconic projects in the
transport portfolio that is under my control.
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