Media release – Michael Ferguson, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, 26 August 2020
Next step in delivering Derwent River ferry service
The Tasmanian Government will this week call for potential ferry operators to register their interest in providing a new Derwent River ferry service.
This is an important step in our commitment to deliver congestion busting initiatives under the Hobart Transport Vision, which is being delivered through the $1.6 billion Hobart City Deal.
We are seeking to partner with a private operator to run a one-year trial of a Derwent River ferry service between the Eastern Shore and Hobart, with the potential for a one-year extension.
The new Derwent River ferry service will provide a fast, convenient and comfortable travel option while helping to reduce congestion on our roads. It will operate between Bellerive and Hobart City during weekday peak periods.
This next step in this exciting project will allow potential operators to register to receive the latest information and updates directly so they can be on the front-foot when the formal procurement process begins later this year.
Development of a full Request for Proposal process is underway to specify the nature of the service, the standard we expect, and to ensure the provider selected will provide the best value for taxpayer money through a robust test of the market.
Potential operators will be invited to pre-register with the Department of State Growth from this coming Friday at www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/transport_services.
The full Request for Proposal is expected to be released in late-2020, and we expect the service to be operating by early next year.
The 10-year Hobart City Deal is a joint initiative of the Australian and Tasmanian Governments, along with the Hobart, Clarence, Glenorchy and Kingborough Councils to make the city an even better place to live, work and study.
Shane Broad MP, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, 26 August 2020
Infrastructure incompetence kiss of death for River Derwent ferry proposal
The government needs to explain a lack of action on the introduction of the River Derwent ferry service.
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure Shane Broad said opening an EOI for private operators for a one-year trial is an admission of government inaction for two and a half years.
“What the government has announced today should have been done on day one of investigating the viability of ferries on the River Derwent.
“Metro Tasmania commissioned a report released over a year ago, saying the project didn’t have enough funding from the government to make it viable long-term.
“Clearly, the government hasn’t come to the table, negotiations with Metro have fallen through and they’ve lost interest in partnering on the project – otherwise why would there need to be an EOI process?
“Michael Ferguson said the EOI is ‘proof of life’ for the proposal – but it’s clear it is yet another infrastructure project that’s been touched by his trademark kiss of death.
“And in the mean time there is still no proposed solution to the traffic congestion that plagues residents of Hobart.
“The River Derwent ferry is another addition to the list of zombie projects, including the fifth lane on Hobart’s Southern Outlet, the Bridgewater Bridge replacement and the underground bus mall, sitting idly by due to Michael Ferguson’s trademark incompetence.
