- Flexible ferry routes to ensure safety of water users at Matilda Bay
- Three alternative routes will allow for continued rowing, sailing and dinghy racing
- Low wake electric ferry design to also reduce impact on water users
- METRONET on Swan Ferry Service Expansion to improve transport connectivity across Perth
- Cook Labor Government committed to delivering more affordable and accessible public transport options for Western Australians
Flexible ferry routes will be implemented at Matilda Bay to ensure water activities, including rowing, sailing, and dinghy racing, can continue safely when expanded METRONET on Swan ferry services begin.
The Cook Labor Government has today released details of the primary ferry route and three alternate routes within Matilda Bay which will be used to safely accommodate a range of regular aquatic activities.
Flexible route options were developed over the past year in consultation with the Waterways Safety Reference Group, which represents 21 water user groups and provides feedback to Government on the expansion of the ferry service on the Swan Canning Riverpark.
The routes have been tailored to the schedules and diverse activities of existing river users to accommodate their needs and provide adequate space.
When on-water activity is limited, ferries will operate on a direct route in and out of Matilda Bay.
When organised sailing activities are underway, ferries will operate closer to Matilda Bay’s northern shoreline, to give sailors more space in the centre of the bay.
When organised rowing activities are taking place early in the morning and late afternoon, ferries travelling between Matilda Bay and Elizabeth Quay will travel further into the centre of the bay to provide more space near the northern shore.
On Saturdays, when activity ramps up for the Perth Dinghy Club, all ferries will operate further east.
At all times, ferry masters will have discretion to alter their course to ensure safety.
The ferry will berth at least 80 metres from the foreshore, leaving plenty of space for swimming, paddling and other foreshore-based activities.
In addition, 34 private boat moorings will be removed, creating more on-water space.
Western Australians will be able to continue to enjoy activities on the foreshore, with the new terminal occupying just three metres of shoreline, representing less than one per cent of Matilda Bay.
The new electric ferries are being built in Western Australia by Henderson-based shipbuilder Echo Marine Group and have been specially designed to reduce wake generation to minimise impacts on other water users, nearby shorelines and sensitive environmental areas.
The Public Transport Authority is developing a timetable to accommodate the flexible ferry routes that will include built-in time at stops to maintain reliability and allow for any potential delays.
To view the routes, visit https://www.pta.wa.gov.au/projects/current-projects/metronet-on-swan-ferry-service-expansion
As stated by Transport and Major Infrastructure Minister Rita Saffioti:
“METRONET on Swan will transform our city and make it easier for everyone to get around and enjoy our beautiful river.
“From the beginning, we’ve been committed to making sure water users can safely use Matilda Bay alongside the ferries, and we will continue to work with them as we get on with delivering this important service for our community.
“I want to assure West Aussies that you will be able to picnic, swim, paddle, row and sail safely at Matilda Bay.
“We’ve worked with water users to design these alternate ferry routes to ensure their groups have the space they need.
“I joined Sailability on the water earlier this week to see how it would work in practice and I’m confident they will be able to continue operating in Matilda Bay.
“The ferry will berth at least 80 metres from the shoreline, with the ferry master always able to choose the safest route based on what is happening in the bay.
“The new Made in WA electric ferries have also been deliberately designed to generate as little wake as possible to minimise impacts on water users.
“Ferries share busy waterways in vibrant cities all around the world, and we’re sure we can do it here too.”
