Ferry service excluded from fare scheme

A local ferry company will cut its services and claims it may face closure in the longer term, because it has not been included in State Government ticketing schemes.

Central Coast Ferries is calling on Peninsula residents to support a petition to include the commercial service in government-subsidised fares that could see pensioners save time and money.

Ferry operator Mr Mark Conway said the petition was created after the ferry service found itself excluded from the State Government's Pensioner Excursion Travel scheme.

"We have been approached on numerous times by pensioners who live locally asking what they can do to help," Mr Conway said.

"Local pensioners will see a cheaper and quicker service on the ferry if we can get approval under the PET scheme."

Mr Conway said pensioners from Davistown, Saratoga and Empire Bay travelling to Woy Woy were regular public transport users.

"At the moment, some pensioners would rather take the hour-long trip by bus to Woy Woy for $2.50 rather than pay $6.70 for the ferry and get there in 20 minutes," Mr Conway said.

Mr Conway said the introduction of the State Government's MyZone ticketing scheme would also have a detrimental effect on the business.

"Being excluded from MyZone will have a severe impact on the business where commuters will save around $40 per week by using MyZone on bus and rail as opposed to ferry and rail," Mr Conway said.

"Our commuters have already indicated that, sadly, they will have to use the cheaper fare."

Mr Conway said the petition was going well with more than 100 signatures.

He said the ferry service would approach Shadow Minister for Transport Ms Gladys Berejiklian or Member for Terrigal Mr Chris Hartcher to get its voice heard.

"Besides being excluded from the PET scheme - all other private ferry operators in NSW have PET - we were restricted by the Ministry of Transport in where the pool of School Student Transport Scheme students come from.

"Also in the past IPART reduced Busways' fares to bring them in line with Sydney Buses, and at the same time increased our fares.

"Our ferry service carries around 5000 passengers per month, mostly concession fares, and if we don't have more support from the NSW Government, rather than discriminatory processes, it is unlikely that we will continue to operate as this business will become unviable in the climate that the government is promoting.

"In the short term, we will be forced to reduce services as we won't have the commuter base, and in the long term who knows?"

Meanwhile, Ms Berejiklian said the MyZone mess was "set to worsen" following revelations the State Government continue to ignore IPART's concerns over the ticketing system.

"IPART has confirmed the State Labor Government will struggle to implement its new MyZone ticketing system by April after failing to consult the body regarding fares and pricing structures," Ms Berejiklian said.

Clare Graham, Interviewee: Mark Conway, Central Coast Ferries Press release, Gladys Berejiklian, Shadow Minister for Transport