Fast Ferry berthing facility due by middle of this year
Fast Ships Limited hope to have the berthing facility for the fast ferry operations ready by the middle of this year after gaining final approval from Gosford Council to run the ferry service.
Fast Ships Chairman, Mr Peter Hale, said the facility will include a wharf with a fixed walkway to a floating pontoon structure.
"The walkway and wharf will be fully covered and lead to a covered ticketing and waiting area on The Esplanade opposite Bangalow Street.
"The company will also be constructing a transport interchange including the reconstruction of the existing car park near the pine trees, provision of disabled parking facilities, commuter 'kiss and ride' and the construction of a bus layby area.
"A taxi rank and bus stop will be provided in Bangalow Street near the intersection with The Esplanade with appropriate pedestrian crossing facilities."
Gosford City Council has now formally approved the Ettalong Beach Fast Ferry after an exhaustive review of environmental and engineering issues.
The Council approved the issue of formal development consent at its meeting on December 7 by an eight votes to one margin.
"Fast Ships Limited are delighted with the decision", said Mr Hale.
"The company has been working extremely hard for the last two years preparing the environmental and engineering reports in response to Council's requirements.
"We believe that we have now fully met the concerns of both the Council and the local residents at considerable cost to the company."
Mr Hale said although it had taken an extraordinary amount of time, the company is nonetheless appreciative of community's and Council's support for this project.
"The issues and ramifications of the fast ferry project are significant and needed to be fully tested in the public arena," he said.
There are a number of conditions attached to the approval, which Fast Ships will now have to address as part of the construction process for the transport interchange and berthing facility.
Mr Hale said the company's consultants would be working without delay to satisfy the conditions of consent so that the new wharf and pontoon can be constructed as soon as possible.
"Fast Ships have also been highly conscious of the need for commuter and visitor parking in the vicinity of the ferry terminal," he said.
"A Parking Management Plan has been prepared and adopted by Council which provides for the upgrading of side streets such as Lagoon Street, Palm Street, Ridge Street and Beach Street including kerb and guttering, road shoulder work and concrete footpaths."This will be coupled with timed parking restrictions.
"These works will be carried out by the fast ferry company at no cost to Council."
Mr Hale said that plans were underway for the construction of the fast ferry, which will be able to seat 450 passengers and travel at speeds of over 40 knots.
"We are also considering introducing an interim lease vessel while the purpose built vessel is under construction.
''The lease vessel will be a high speed catamaran with similar seating capacity to the purpose built vessel.
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