A PETITION to extend Newcastle’s ferry services has been officially tabled in the NSW Legislative Council.
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Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald tabled the petition on Tuesday after Throsby Basin Business Chamber and residents of the Newcastle area began advocating for the extension of the current ferry services.
The 212-signature document is calling on Newcastle Transport and the state government to add extra stops to the service between Queens Wharf and Stockton at Wickham and Carrington.
“I would like to acknowledge the advocacy of the Throsby Basin Business Chamber, President Clare Monkley and all those who signed the petition” Mr MacDonald said.
Business Chamber president Clare Monkley said she was pleased to see the views of members and business owners under consideration.
“We call on the state government to listen to those views and carefully consider the extension of the current ferry service running between Stockton and Queens Wharf to include additional pick up and drop off facilities at Wickham and Carrington,” she said.
Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp said he had been calling for the expansion since 2015.
“I welcome the fact that Scot MacDonald and Throsby Basin Business Chamber President, Clare Monkley have come on board for the extension of the ferry service,” he said.
“Newcastle is changing. The CBD is expanding further west and with the Newcastle Interchange combining all modes of public transport; it seems a missed opportunity that this government has not even investigated expanding the ferry network to the west.”
“It is disappointing that the government only has this project listed for investigation in the next 10 years in their Newcastle transport plan.”