THE fight is on to save the Lower Portland ferry from closing, which residents fear will “destroy” their close knit community.
Lower Portland residents pleaded with councillors at last week’s council meeting to find a solution to ferry maintenance issues to ensure it remained open to the public.
Council agreed a replacement vessel was needed urgently following a recent inspection by Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) which gave the vessel limited certification.
The RMS said both Hawkesbury and Hills councils, which jointly run the ferry, have until the ferry licence renewal in November to decide its fate. The estimated replacement cost for the ferry is $1.5 million.
Residents Stan Suman, Colin Thompson and Steve Arblastor spoke on behalf of their community on the importance of keeping the ferry in operation.
“I have lived in Lower Portland for 20 years. The ferry is the fibre that binds us together,” Mr Thompson said.
“If you take that away it will affect us profoundly, it will sever our community spirit.”
Mr Suman questioned how it would affect the community in an emergency situation, while Mr Arblastor encouraged the council to look for grant funding or a suitable second-hand replacement ferry.
Council staff advised a working party should be formed with Hills Shire to investigate access options for the ferry’s future operation.
Cr Kevin Conolly, MP, moved to form the working party, but rejected Cr Christine Paine’s request to have a councillor and two community residents on the working party.
Cr Paine then moved an amendment with her request and added Cr Barry Calvert’s request to seek representations from the RMS to take full responsibility for the operation of the ferry.
Cr Conolly and fellow state government member Bart Bassett saw Cr Calvert’s request as a “political move”.
In frustration both councillors Bassett and Conolly were forced to dismiss themselves from the discussion and vote, due to a conflict of interest as state members of parliament.
The move meant Cr Conolly’s motion fell over and Cr Paine’s amendment to include community residents got up, which was welcomed by the Lower Portland residents.
“We believe the working party will benefit from having local residents and their local knowledge on the board,” Mr Arblastor said.
The motion also included that council support the ongoing operation of the ferry as an essential resource. Plans for the working party are now underway.
