Not again! Kurraba Point residents furious after local F5 ferry service cancelled until July.
By ANNA USHER
Kurraba Point ferry passengers are at their wits end, with the wharf again closed, this time until July.
Transport for NSW confirm a vessel struck the wharf on Saturday 9 March, with unconfirmed reports it was an Emerald Class ferry responsible for the damage.
Angry commuters are now calling on the State Government to provide answers following the sudden closure, the second in eight months.
“It’s deplorable that little to no information has been provided to residents,” Kurraba Point local Dr Trevor Carter told Mosman Collective.
“Ignoring the public and not providing any real information on what’s the plan to get it fixed, is the biggest frustration.”
The wharf is served by the F5 ferry route to Circular Quay, which latest figures show carried 43,703 people in February.
It is the only form of public transport at Kurraba Point, meaning passengers are now forced to use the next nearest wharf, in Hayes St, Neutral Bay.
“The ferry is the only we many of us can get to work because there are no trains or buses around here,” commuter Shelly Stevens told Mosman Collective.
“The wharf only reopened two weeks ago after the last debacle, and now we are told it will be July before we can use it again.
“Not good enough, Transdev and Transport for NSW, to be honest I am absolutely fuming.”
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A customer service email sent from Transdev says the wharf is currently being assessed for damage “and will be repaired”.
“As the repairs will be undertaken by NSW Maritime, we do not have a timeframe for their completion.”
Member for North Shore Felicity Wilson told Mosman Collective she will be working closely with TfNSW to ensure services can resume “as soon as is safely possible.”
“Following the [March 9] incident an engineering inspection highlighted serious concerns regarding the structural integrity of the wharf’s landing steps and associated elements leading to safety concerns for ferry users, operators and the general public,” Ms Wilson said.
“Unfortunately, this means that because of the comprehensive repairs that will need to be undertaken the wharf will now remain closed until late July 2024.”
In the meantime, alternative transport options include ferries from Neutral Bay Wharf and route 225 buses from Kurraba Road.
Please check the website for the latest updates and travel alerts. “We again apologise for the inconvenience caused and thank you for bringing this information to our attention and hope your future experience on-board our services will better meet your expectations,” a Transdev spokesperson said.
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