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By Catherine Watson
A CAR ferry linking Phillip Island and the Mornington Peninsula is back on the agenda with the State Government committing $200,000 towards a feasibility study to determine whether the Cowes Jetty is a suitable docking point.
Bass Coast Shire Council will commission the study which will assess implications for the Cowes Jetty Triangle and a detailed traffic and parking impact assessment.
Bass Coast Mayor Brett Tessari said the community would be invited to provide feedback on the project, which has created ripples in the Phillip Island community since it was first floated many years ago.
A CAR ferry linking Phillip Island and the Mornington Peninsula is back on the agenda with the State Government committing $200,000 towards a feasibility study to determine whether the Cowes Jetty is a suitable docking point.
Bass Coast Shire Council will commission the study which will assess implications for the Cowes Jetty Triangle and a detailed traffic and parking impact assessment.
Bass Coast Mayor Brett Tessari said the community would be invited to provide feedback on the project, which has created ripples in the Phillip Island community since it was first floated many years ago.
The ferry project is an essential component of the Government’s proposal to create an iconic touring route linking the Great Ocean Road, Mornington Peninsula, Phillip Island and Wilsons Promontory.
Council backs car ferry ‘in principle’
April 20, 2018 - The Cowes jetty is back on the table as a possible terminal for a car ferry service to the Mornington Peninsula.
Car ferry a goer
February 16, 2018 - A stretch of beachfront between Mussel Rocks and the Cowes Yacht Club is the preferred dock for a proposed car ferry between Phillip Island and the Mornington Peninsula.
April 20, 2018 - The Cowes jetty is back on the table as a possible terminal for a car ferry service to the Mornington Peninsula.
Car ferry a goer
February 16, 2018 - A stretch of beachfront between Mussel Rocks and the Cowes Yacht Club is the preferred dock for a proposed car ferry between Phillip Island and the Mornington Peninsula.
It’s also supported by the Phillip Island and San Remo Visitor Economy Strategy 2035, adopted by the council in 2015, and still supported by the council – at least in theory.
But the practicality has proved far more difficult. A 2018 business case study showed overwhelming support for the proposed ferry among Mornington Peninsula residents (87 per cent), but it was much lower in Bass Coast (66 per cent), with concerns expressed around environmental impacts, traffic congestion and the location of the terminal in Cowes.
The Cowes jetty was expressly excluded from consideration as a docking point in the study due to a vocal local campaign.
Instead the study recommended a section of beachfront between Mussel Rocks and the Cowes Yacht Club – and that proved even more controversial.
But the practicality has proved far more difficult. A 2018 business case study showed overwhelming support for the proposed ferry among Mornington Peninsula residents (87 per cent), but it was much lower in Bass Coast (66 per cent), with concerns expressed around environmental impacts, traffic congestion and the location of the terminal in Cowes.
The Cowes jetty was expressly excluded from consideration as a docking point in the study due to a vocal local campaign.
Instead the study recommended a section of beachfront between Mussel Rocks and the Cowes Yacht Club – and that proved even more controversial.
Following the release of the business case study, Bass Coast councillors voted six to three to back a car ferry “in principle”. However, they declined to endorse Mussel Rocks as the preferred location for a terminal and asked the State Government to investigate the Cowes jetty as a docking point.
Last year, the council adopted a notice of motion stating it would not proceed with any further consideration of the sites already explored in the business case.
Cr Tessari said the council continued to support a car ferry in principle.
“However, Council deferred consideration of the Business Case based on community feedback throughout the consultation process, until a comprehensive investigation has been undertaken as to whether the Cowes Jetty is a more suitable location.
Bass MP Jordan Crugnale, a former Bass Coast mayor, welcomed the feasibility study.
“If it is viable, the car ferry will bolster our region’s tourism appeal and bolster jobs into the future.”
Last year, the council adopted a notice of motion stating it would not proceed with any further consideration of the sites already explored in the business case.
Cr Tessari said the council continued to support a car ferry in principle.
“However, Council deferred consideration of the Business Case based on community feedback throughout the consultation process, until a comprehensive investigation has been undertaken as to whether the Cowes Jetty is a more suitable location.
Bass MP Jordan Crugnale, a former Bass Coast mayor, welcomed the feasibility study.
“If it is viable, the car ferry will bolster our region’s tourism appeal and bolster jobs into the future.”
Comments are closed.
The north facing beachfront from Silverleaves to Ventnor is so rare and beautiful can it not go somewhere else?
Worried about even more dreadful impacts to our long suffering wildlife.
Car ferry has never made any sense and never will. Now, about climate crisis....
This iconic foreshore is only one of three North facing beach foreshore areas in Victoria, and has always been one of the most significant attractions for Cowes tourism.
Once lost to development and vehicle traffic, it can never be recovered.
1. Already nearly a million dollars has already been spent on
feasibility/proposals.
2. A Jetty Car Ferry terminal proposal was voted against
unanimously in 2010 by the Bass Coast Council and applauded
by the community.
3. There has been a 2 million dollar upgrade of the Jetty Triangle to
remove cars and be more people friendly.
4. With serious coastal erosion on the precious Cowes foreshore
beach why would the infrastructure required not be the cause of
more detriment ?
5. How can a Car Ferry in Cowes benefit the businesses when it is
probable that most cars will just drive across the Island to another
destination ?