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2002 (c) Peninsula Community Access Newspaper Inc

 

Fires prompt Liberal move for ferries

 

Member for Robertson Mr Jim Lloyd has called on the NSW Government to include the automatic introduction of emergency ferry services in its disaster management plans for the Central Coast.

Ferries would run between Ettalong or Patonga to either Sydney Harbour, Palm Beach, or Brooklyn in the event that either the F3 Freeway or the main northern rail line was closed for more than 12 hours.

Mr Lloyd said that the logistics of running the ferries would need to be planned ahead, before such a disaster occurred.

"Once again these terrible bushfires have highlighted just how vulnerable our transport links to Sydney are, in the event of natural or manmade disasters," Mr Lloyd said.

"It again highlights the need for a regular commuter ferry service between the Central Coast and Sydney Harbour and I commend the Palm Beach Ferry Service for their speedy action in providing additional services between Ettalong and Palm Beach," Mr Lloyd said.

"Palm Beach Ferry Service has once again provided the only link to Sydney enabling many hundreds of people to be reunited with their families or to fulfil important commitments," Mr Lloyd said.

"I know from personal experience how frightening this separation can be in times of crisis.

"Like thousands of other Central Coast residents, I was unable to return home last night," Mr Lloyd said.

"I have been in regular contact with the Gosford City Emergency Control Centre at Kariong and have offered my assistance in securing additional resources from the Federal Government," Mr Lloyd said.

Mr Lloyd praised the untiring efforts of the thousands of volunteers who have once again turned out to help in this time of crisis.

Meanwhile Liberal Candidate for Peats, Cr Debra Wales, has called for the Central Coast to be less reliant on Sydney.

She said the bushfire emergency had highlighted the urgent need to find solutions to the fragile transport links between the Central Coast and Sydney.

"The current bush fire emergency is as bad if not worse than the 1994 fires which also cut our transport links to Sydney.

"It was the 1994 fires that originally prompted the discussions to build a suitable public wharf facility at Ettalong Beach that could accommodate emergency services vessels and ferry access to Sydney," she said.

"As a community, we need to face up to the reality that our current transport options are highly vulnerable to these types of natural disasters.

"The bush fires have certainly highlighted the need to get the proposed Ettalong Beach to Circular Quay high speed ferry up and running sooner rather than later.

*l think this emergency also highlights the need to reduce our dependence on the Sydney metropolitan region in terms of jobs and services.

"We must push forward with greater investment on the Central Coast so as to create more business and job opportunities for our daily commuters and our younger people coming into the work force".

Cr Wales said that, while the Sydney region would always be a major drawcard for employment, it was critical that more resources be put into the Central Coast to encourage business development.

"It is a disturbing fact that nearly 90 per cent of people of working age on the Woy Woy Peninsula have to travel out of the area to find work.

"Thousands of those travel the F3 Freeway and the main northern rail line into Sydney taking them away from home and family and diverting valuable spending dollars way from the Coast's local economy."

Press release, December 6