'It'll kill Manly':$6m saving doesn't account for wider value of ferries,say critics

Replacing Sydney's world-renowned Freshwater ferries with newer vessels on the popular Manly-Circular Quay route is estimated to save taxpayers about $6 million a year.

Transport for NSW calculates the hourly cost to run a Freshwater ferry is about double that of an Emerald-class vessel,but locals and unions campaigning for the larger ferries to be kept in service say the state government needs to take account of their broader economic worth.

The large doubled-ended Freshwaters,launched in the 1980s,are set to be replaced.

The large doubled-ended Freshwaters,launched in the 1980s,are set to be replaced.Dominic Lorrimer

Northern Beaches councillor Candy Bingham said retiring the ferries from next year would be a blow to Manly because the suburb relied on the tourists they helped attract.

"This will kill Manly. The tourism dollar needs to be part of the equation,"said Cr Bingham,a third-generation Manly resident."There is outrage,frankly. Everyone is stunned. There is still decades of life left in these ferries – it is like getting rid of the cable cars in San Francisco."

The first of the four Freshwater ferries isexpected to be removed from service next year, while the others are likely to be retired as early as 2022. They will be replaced by smaller Emerald-class ferries.

While a final decision on their future will be made by the end of the year,Transport for NSW said that"even with the uplift in service frequency for customers,the savings to taxpayers with this change to Emerald-class fleet will be around $6 million each year". The cost estimates included the expense of day-to day maintenance and crew.

The Freshwater-class ferries have braved some large swells in their time.

The Freshwater-class ferries have braved some large swells in their time.Nick Moir

"Emerald-class vessels are also more fuel efficient and provide better accessibility for our less mobile customers compared to the Freshwaters,"the agency said.

Transport for NSW also said operating Emerald-class ferries would deliver 328 extra services a week on the Manly route,which would increase the total number of services from 492 to 820.

"This additional frequency not only offsets the capacity difference between the Freshwater and Emerald-class ferries,but also allows for additional capacity when it is needed,"it said.

But Maritime Union of Australia assistant secretary Paul Garrett said the government was failing to account for the broader benefits of the ferries,which were in themselves a drawcard for tourists.

The Manly ferry has battled high seas in Sydney Harbour caused by wild weather along the NSW coast.

"The problem with this government is that all they look at is the nickel and the dime. They are not seeing the actual benefit that they bring,"he said.

And he warned that their removal would leave a gap in capacity on the Manly-Circular Quay route on summer weekends when people flocked to the northern beaches.

"This decision is wrong. We're calling on the NSW government to reverse this decision[and] extend the life of those Manly ferries,"he said."There's just not enough capacity with Emerald-class vessels."

Transport Minister Andrew Constance said a final decision on the future of the Freshwater ferries would be made by the end of the year."They will continue to operate this summer. Ultimately we need to weigh up the benefit to commuters and the cost to taxpayers,"he said.

Labor transport spokesman Chris Minns demanded the government release the details of a $1.3 billion nine-year contract it awarded French company Transdev for the operation of Sydney's ferries,and"explain where it's up to".

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Matt O'Sullivan is transport and infrastructure editor at The Sydney Morning Herald.

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