Pressure mounts on Balmain East wharf

Upgrades to the Balmain ferry service will continue as planned despite the urgency being sought by some sections of the community.

Member for Balmain Jamie Parker has called for an immediate upgrade to the Balmain East ferry wharf, the second busiest commuter wharf in Sydney, which lacks an adequate level of accessibility.

“The wharf should be upgraded as a matter of urgency to improve accessibility for people with a disability, a mobility issue or those using prams,” he said.

Mr Parker wants to fast-track an existing proposal to upgrade the wharf as part of the State Government’s wider 20-year ferry plan. The Minister for Transport, Gladys Berejiklian, unveiled the plan in May. Since 2011, five wharves have undergone improvements, including Balmain Thames St earlier this year.

The next phase of the plan is a $770 million Transport Access Program, which will ensure upgrades to Pyrmont Bay, Drummoyne and Balmain East wharves.

However, local resident Warren Fahey is dissatisfied with the pace of the proposed changes. His letter to the department in April received a response ten weeks later indicating that the wharf would be “considered” as part of the program.

“Gaining access to the ferry wharf at low tide means traversing twelve steps, and this is beyond the capability of many people,” Mr Fahey said. “Surely in the 21st century we can expect that all public transport can cater for people with mobility issues.”

A spokesperson for Transport for NSW told The Inner West Independent: “Planning for the upgrade of Balmain East Wharf is in the initial stages. A projected scope, timeline and cost for the project will be identified as planning advances.”

Coinciding with these upgrades will be a revised ferry timetable, introducing 50 new services across the network, and better connections with buses.

“Services at Balmain East will be more consistent under the new timetable, with a ferry every 30 minutes at most times during the week and every 20 minutes during busy periods on weekends.

“It is also intended that ferries from Darling Harbour and Pyrmont Bay will run to Balmain East later at night.” At present, the last ferry reaches Balmain East at 11.35pm on weeknights and 11.08pm on weekends. The last ex-Circular Quay ferry reaches Balmain Thames St at 7.50pm on weekdays and 7.22pm on weekends, though services continue later to Birchgrove.

The new timetable is due to be implemented in October.

By Robin Marshall