Commuter ferry is not viable

In the ongoing debate over the Farce Ferry from Ettalong to Circular Quay one important factor seems to have been lost.

The original decision to grant Fast Ferries a lease over public land on Ettalong Beach was that Fast Ferries was to provide a public service for the benefit of residents i.e. a commuter service to Sydney.

Having read the document supplied to council in support of this proposal it is clear that a commuter service is not viable.

On at least three occasions Fast Ferries has announced that a backer had been found and the signing of a lease agreement was imminent.

Given that any company or wealthy individual that considered providing financial backing would have read the documentation provided by Fast Ferries and they all then pulled out of any deal indicates that the proposal is indeed not viable.

It appears that the officers of Gosford Council have not read this document, yet they are recommending that council sign a lease over public land for a period of 40 years.

Bryan Ellis, Woy Woy