The Ettalong Ratepayers and Progress Association (ERPA) says the arrival of the fast ferry signals unprecedented environmental destruction to the Peninsula.

Twenty-four concerned residents turned up for a meeting last Wednesday.

Committee member Philip Halter said the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) sponsored by Fast Ships, the owners of the fast ferry, was "vague and conflicting."

Mr Halter said there were many unanswered questions to how much environmental effect the fast ferry would cause.

Mr Halter said the EIS did not answer environmental concerns about noise levels, storage of fuel, impact on local traffic and recreational fishing, exclusion zones, speed limits or the size of the ferry.

"If the questions are not answered we will end up with an environmental disaster at Ettalong," he said.

Mr Halter said the EIS refers to a 50-metre boat but there was now talk of it being 60 metres.

A further independent study should be done, he said.

He suggested they contract a consultancy affiliated with the University of New England in Armidale.

The consultancy, Resource Systems Management Consulting, promotes itself as "process consultants who aim to a service to facilitate a strategic and unified community response to complex and contested issues"."

The consultant’s fee would be $6 600.

Mr Halter said the public must be educated about the environmental consequences.

Mr Ian James, a commercial fisherman, said the seagrass beds, a breeding area for fish, were under threat.

"There will have to be dredging of the channel to allow the ferry through the shallows of Ettalong," he said.

Mr James said this would have a devastating effect on local fish stocks for both recreational and professional anglers.

"Fish stocks are already 70 percent down and a lot of Broken Bay prawns start their life in Ettalong.

"There will be massive environmental damage for more than just Ettalong if this ferry goes ahead and your community from top to bottom will be destroyed," he said.

Mr James said previous dredging in the area had been a disaster.

Chairman Mr Rob Molin said ERPA would consult with other groups at Hardys Bay and Wagstaffe and lobby Gosford Council.

The fast ferry would need its own channel and recreational anglers would probably be prohibited, he said.

Mr Molin was concerned about the possibility of 55,000-fuel tanks in the middle of Ettalong Beach.

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, April 14, 7.30 pm, at the Ettalong Progress Association Hall.