Palm Beach ferry runs aground

The Ettalong to Palm Beach Ferry ran aground near Box Head on Thursday, July 27.

Fantasea Cruising chief Mr Anthony Hayes said the grounding occurred when a wave pushed the ferry onto a sandbank.

Mr Hayes said the skipper had idled the vessel after noticing the low tide, but an incoming wave moved the ferry, effectively grounding it.

Mr Hayes said the skipper was forced to wait for a large enough wave to help him get off the sand.

While aground, the vessel took on some water as waves broke over the aft deck.

No passengers were on board at the time.

Once the skipper had managed to exit the channel he reported the incident via radio and the ferry was diverted from its original course, Ettalong Wharf, to Patonga.

Due to safety concerns, Fantasea kept a Patonga diversion in place for two days, a move Mr Hayes said greatly disrupted commuters.

Mr Hayes said the grounding was one of several incidents this year.

He said he had been warning the community since March that if the "horribly shallow" Ettalong Channel was not fully dredged that Fantasea Cruising would be forced to close its Ettalong service.

"As a result of this incident our crew felt it necessary to suspend all services through the channel and we instead diverted services away from Ettalong to Patonga for several days, until tides and swells changed," Mr Hayes said.

"This is another clear example of the ongoing challenges we face in the channel.

"At low tide, especially on days when the swell is strong, we continue to have a serious problem.

"The recent emergency dredging has certainly helped to reduce the problem slightly, but the sand has not been permanently removed from the area.

"This means we expect the benefits of the emergency dredging to last for around four months before the problem is back to the same level just in time for summer.

"We need a more permanent dredging solution."

Mr Hayes said Fantasea had asked both Council and the State Government for assistance.

"Our aim is to always deliver a regular, reliable service between Palm Beach and Ettalong.

"However, our crew have full authority to divert away from their normal, scheduled route if they feel conditions are too dangerous to navigate the channel.

Unfortunately, this has been occurring on an increasingly frequent basis on days of low tides and strong swells.

"After the incident we immediately contacted the State Government via our contacts at Roads and Maritime Services."

Mr Hayes said: "We are very proud to provide the ferry service for the people of the Central Coast and the Northern Beaches.

"We believe we play an important role for the local community, not only in terms of ensuring people can go about their day-to-day lives, but also in terms of growing tourism to our beautiful part of the world, but safety must always be our first priority."

Peninsula Chamber of Commerce president Mr Matthew Wales said it was time for Central Coast Council and the State Government to get their act together.

"The Chamber's concern is that if the State Government and Council do not come to some agreement over the funding of the dredge there is a real prospect that Fantasea will shut down more of its services.

"The fact is the emergency dredge hasn't gone far enough and the $150,000 has only done part of the work," Mr Wales said.

According to Mr Wales these implications are not lost on either levels of government.

"The delay and the inaction from both the state and Council is what is so frustrating.

"No one is saying that the work shouldn't be done but in the end it all comes down to this frustrating argument of whose responsible for the work, which is just another way of saying who's going to fund it."

Mr Wales said the matter of funding was the most the reason the channel had been allowed to deteriorate for so long.

"At the end of the day, whether we pay for it through our taxes or we pay for it through our rates it's still our money and we all have a right to ensure these works are undertaken quickly.

"The Peninsula business community is frustrated.

"Our tourism is at risk and our tourists and commuters are unhappy.

"A full dredge with associated maintenance works is the only solution to the problem.

"Emergency works are just band aids and the Chamber knows that Council has invested time and resources into assessing the channel and planning a solution.

"That's the thing," Mr Wales said.

"We aren't starting from scratch here.

"Council has undertaken a number of studies and they know what needs to be done.

"It's now simply a matter of securing the funds and the Chamber is going to continue to pressure both the State and Council to work this out," Mr Wales said.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Mr Scot MacDonald, said he was aware of the community's frustrations.

"I have raised the issue of responsibility for local waterways within government.

"This policy area needs review.

"I hope to report back to the community in the near future," Mr MacDonald said.

Central Coast Council released a statement in which it said it had applied to the NSW Government for the full cost of dredging the Ettalong Channel.

It said it expected the funding to be forthcoming, as dredging navigable waters was the responsibility of the state.

The statement also said Council had written directly to Mr MacDonald and suggested a working party be set up to help come to a solution to the problem.

SOURCES:

Interviews, 2-4 Aug 2017

Matthew Wales, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce

Anthony Hayes, Fantasea Cruising

Media Statements, 2 Aug 2017

Anthony Hayes, Fantasea Cruising

Scot MacDonald, Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast

Ian Reynolds, Central Coast Council

Reporter: Dilon Luke