D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e G r o w t h
COMMUNIQUE
Bruny Island Ferry Reference Group
Meeting 21 - 3 March 2021
The Bruny Island Ferry Reference Group (BIFRG) held its 21st meeting on 3 March 2021. This communique has been compiled by the
Department of State Growth and has not been approved for publication by all BIFRG members.
Post-Meeting Update (12 April 2021):
This Communique reflects the information current at the time the meeting was held on 3 March 2021.
There has been some delay in publishing this Communique and where information has changed, an update has been provided.
Ferry service update
For the period December 2020 to February 2021, overall total vehicle numbers were down on previous years, however resident and landowner travel was higher than the equivalent period in the previous year.
SeaLink advised that it will continue to operate the current timetable until after Easter 2021. Information about changes to the timetable when the two new vessels are in service will be provided as soon as practicable.
In response to a question raised about how SeaLink assesses whether to operate the current 6:30 pm ‘on- demand’ service, SeaLink responded that it usually runs on a Friday, and on other days only as required.
SeaLink advised that it hands out Bruny Island Tourism Inc. maps at the ticket booth. SeaLink is a major sponsor of the tourism maps, and prints and distributes the maps with more than 14,000 distributed in the past month.
A question was asked about whether SeaLink is unofficially allowing some passengers priority over others.
SeaLink explained that it only provides priority to passengers under the terms of its contract (i.e. for the school bus, emergency services and other urgent medical matters).
A question was asked about the order of unloading vehicles, and in particular, whether residents and other cars could be unloaded before slower vehicles, such as trucks or vehicles towing caravans. SeaLink advised that the logistics of loading and unloading vehicles can be difficult, and the order can depend on the mass, length and width of a vehicle. SeaLink endeavours to unload vehicles in the same order that they were loaded, which at times includes slower vehicles later in the load where practical.
New Vessel Update
The second new vessel has been painted and is on the water. Sea trials will occur towards the end of March 2021, and handover is expected to occur after Easter 2021, at which time the Nairana will be removed to undergo alterations to enable it to be used on both the current ramp and the new ramp when construction is complete. The alterations will increase its loading and unloading capabilities and
compatibility with the new ramp infrastructure.
The Mirambeena and the second new vessel will provide the ferry service, supported by the Bowen (as needed). Once the Nairana returns to the service, the Mirambeena will be cease to provide the service.
State Growth is currently considering options for the future of the Mirambeena.
UPDATE: The new vessel has been named Parrabah and was delivered to Kettering on 13 April 2021.
Bowen Update
In response to feedback from the BIFRG, SeaLink is installing fabric deflectors near the loading ramps of Bowen to reduce the impact of spray onto the vehicle deck. SeaLink has already installed noise suppression mufflers on the Bowen to reduce its operating noise.
New vessels carrying capacity
A question was asked about the carrying capacity of the second new vessel. SeaLink explained that with the two new vessels operating at the same time, and an increase in the speed and turnaround time, there will be the potential for more departures and more overall capacity daily (measured in lane metres). This will allow SeaLink to respond to growing demand, which will benefit the whole community. Bowen will be available to provide further capacity where demand warrants it.
Operationally, the actual vehicle capacity will always depend on the type and length of vehicles carried on a particular crossing. Nairana and Parrabah are not limited by the height of vehicles that they can carry.
Booking system update
SeaLink explained that it was progressing the booking system and App.
The BIFRG members, with the support of various Bruny Island groups, has written to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport requesting that the implementation of a booking system be abandoned.
The BIFRG broadly discussed the booking system. Members raised concerns about:
• uncertainty of how the system will operate
• how vehicles longer than 6m will be catered for
• whether passengers could make last-minute bookings
• whether passenger will be able to reschedule if they miss a booked crossing for any reason
• how SeaLink will prevent business operators from booking all available spots
• how the system will work operationally within the terminal areas, and
• whether the booking system may deter visitors or tourists who haven’t booked.
UPDATE: The Minister responded to the letter on 8 April 2021.
Resident and Landowner stickers
SeaLink advised that all correctly submitted sticker applications have now been processed. Where insufficient or incorrect information was provided, SeaLink has responded to applicants to seek the required information. SeaLink is progressively starting to cancel stickers which have now expired.
Terminal infrastructure upgrades update
State Growth advised that the terminal infrastructure upgrade works are scheduled for completion in mid- 2021.
The marine works started on 9 March 2021. These works involve the installation of socketed piles to support the concrete pile caps that will in turn support the new steel loading ramp and fenders. Piling works will be conducted from a marine barge and mobile cranes will be utilised throughout the process.
The marine works will not interrupt the current ferry service and the emergency vessel berth located at Roberts Point will remain in service at all times during construction.
There will be some temporary traffic changes to ensure the safety of workers and road users during the works. Lane closures and a reduced speed limit will be in place during work hours and may affect travel times.
The work will also involve the use of machinery which generates some noise. Contractors will make every effort to minimise noise by turning off machinery and vehicles whenever possible.
SeaLink will operate to its usual timetables throughout construction, though at times there will be more heavy vehicles either at the ferry terminals or on the ferry than usual.
A BIFRG member raised concerns about the safety of the worksites at Roberts Point and Kettering. State Growth committed to raising the concerns with the relevant contractors.
Past minutes and communiques
All of the past BIFRG minutes and communiques can be found on SeaLink’s website at https://www.sealinkbrunyisland.com.au/our-plan/bruny-island-ferry-reference-group.
Next Meeting
The next BIFRG meeting will be held in mid-2021. Dates and location details will be published on SeaLink’s BIFRG webpage prior to the meeting.
Community Q&A session – 3 March 2021 (responses prepred by State Growth)
The BIFRG holds a 30-minute community question and answer (Q&A) session before every BIFRG meeting.
On 3 March 2021, 23 community members attended the Q&A session. The community asked questions about the ongoing infrastructure works, the booking system and general ferry operations. Below is a summary of questions asked and responses provided at this meeting. Some questions and responses have been edited or combined for brevity and clarity. The below response reflect the position at the time of the meeting.
How was the BIFRG formed? What is the role of the BIFRG?
The BIFRG was formed in July 2018 following the awarding of the ferry service contract to SeaLink. The Bruny Island community expressed concerns over some of the proposed changes to the service and a desire to have a single point of contact to direct all of their ferry related questions. The BIFRG is designed to be the primary mechanism by which Bruny Island community members can raise ferry-related questions.
You can find more information on the BIFRG, including its Terms of Reference, here:
https://www.sealinkbrunyisland.com.au/our-plan/bruny-island-ferry-reference-group.
When will the Minister provide a response to the letter sent out by five BIFRG members requesting that the implementation of a booking system be reconsidered?
State Growth advised that the Minister was seeking information from the Department, which had not been provided at the time at the time of the meeting.
UPDATE: The Minister responded to the letter on 8 April 2021.
Can the modelling advice that supports the implementation of a booking system be provided to the community?
State Growth took this question on notice. A response will be provided at the next BIFRG meeting.
What do dual ramps mean for vessel movements?
As part of the terminal upgrade works, State Growth is constructing new ramps at Roberts Point and Kettering. The existing ramps will remain, meaning there will be two ramps at each terminal.
Dual ramps will allow greater vessels movements through the terminals, as two vessels can be berthed at the same terminal at the same time. This means that loading or unloading of the vessels can happen simultaneously (with appropriate and safe traffic management in place) when necessary.
Dual ramps will also provide redundancy, meaning that access to and from Bruny Island will not be hampered in the event of mechanical failure of a ramp.
Can the Moongalba be brought back onto the service if needed?
The Moongalba is no longer a contracted vessel on the Bruny Island ferry service. SeaLink has returned the Moongalba to its original configuration as a landing barge to allow it to perform other work. There are no plans to reinstate the Moongalba on the ferry service.
What evidence is there that the new vessels will be able to run to a 20 minute timetable?
SeaLink has already tested the Nairana’s ability to deliver a faster turnaround and is confident that the two new vessels combined will be able to operate to a 20 minute rotational timetable. Currently, the timetable accounts for the slower speed of Mirambeena, which means that the Nairana’s speed is limited to operate alongside Mirambeena on the timetable. The two new vessels will facilitate more frequent crossings.
What is the future of the Mirambeena?
The Mirambeena ceases to become a contracted ferry on the Bruny Island Ferry Service once the second new vessel is delivered to SeaLink and is operating on the service alongside the Nairana. The Department of State Growth is currently considering options for the future of the Mirambeena.
Has State Growth undertaken a risk assessment of the impact that a booking system will have traffic movements, the example provided drivers speeding from South Bruny to terminal to meet a booking?
No, an overall risk assessment of a booking system on traffic movements has not been undertaken. In response to the specific example provided, State Growth advised that road users have a personal responsibility to manage their own time and obey all road rules.
UPDATE: Targeted assessments have been undertaken in the context of the infrastructure upgrade works, which did consider the implementation of a booking system. The assessment is limited to the terminal area.
Has SeaLink received Government funding to complete the infrastructure works?
SeaLink has not received any Government funding to complete the terminal upgrade works. The Bruny Island Ferry Terminal upgrades are being funded and undertaken by State Growth to improve travel times to and from Bruny Island, reduce ferry queues and congestion on Ferry Road and the Channel Highway, and to support faster vessel crossings of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel.
The infrastructure will remain the property of the Crown, and SeaLink is licensed to use it to provide the ferry service while it continues to be the contracted service provider.
Can we have more information about how a booking system will operate? What will happen if I missing a booking and have to reschedule? When will the booking system be implemented?
The booking system is under development. Community feedback and interviews have informed the development of the design of the system and App, along with experience from other SeaLink operations and from the App developer. The system will provide customers the opportunity to reschedule, or use their ticket in the standby lanes.
Under a booking system, will users who choose not to book or want to undertake impromptu travel be worse off?
Will those who choose not to book be no worse off than present?
The booking system will cater to both booked and unbooked travellers. Passengers who choose not to book or want to cross at short-notice without booking will still be able to turn up to the terminal and queue for the next available ferry, as they currently do.
Under a booking system, will a third ferry be automatically put into service if all spaces are booked?
Under its contract, SeaLink is required to operate a third vessel where there is a reasonable expectation of sufficient passenger demand to warrant additional services. Just because a ferry is fully booked, it does not mean that there will be sufficient demand to warrant SeaLink operating a third vessel. The booking system will provide for booked and unbooked travel.
Booked sailings will have some standby capacity so it will still be possible to turn up and queue for the next available ferry, even if the bookable space is fully booked.
A booking system will allow SeaLink to assess demand with more certainty and plan-ahead on peak days.
What is the definition of ‘fit for purpose’? How is this assessed? Would a vessel that could carry five or ten cars also be considered fit for purpose?
‘Fit for purpose’ means suited to the intended use. Vessel requirements are specified in SeaLink’s contract and assessed against SeaLink’s overall plan to use faster ferries to run to a more frequent timetable, allowing for an overall increase in crossing capacity and service flexibility. On this basis, a five or ten car ferry would not be considered fit for purpose.
What will happen if booking system is not successful in meeting its aims?
Regardless of the booking system, SeaLink and State Growth will continue to monitor the service and look for ways to decrease ferry queues and improve public safety and passenger experiences.
Published 14 April 2021
