Kingborough Council last week unanimously approved the Department of State Growth’s $7.5m proposal to upgrade the Kettering ferry terminal.The development, which is scheduled to begin on Monday, includes the construction of a second ferry berth and associated ferry infrastructure.The operation of two ramps will increase the number of vehicles that can be carried each hour from 81 to 104.The upgrades include the construction of a new roll-on, roll-off ferry berth, new pedestrian shelter and a new boom gate with a ticket scanner and bypass lane.The council received four objections about the development with issues relating to traffic, noise and parking.Lane closures and a reduced speed limit will be in place during the works, which are scheduled for 7am-6pm Monday to Friday and 8am-4pm Saturdays.Motorists can expect travel times to increase by eight minutes.
POST-TENDER SPEND ON FERRY INFRASTRUCTURE QUERIED
POST-TENDER UPGRADES ARE ‘DISAPPOINTING IN THE EXTREME’
In recent years the Kettering ferry terminal has been a traffic bottleneck, causing disruptions on the Channel Highway during long weekends when visitors flock to the island.Bruny shackie Peter McNally, while welcoming the works, questioned why the six-month-long work wasn’t carried out prior to the festive season.“It’s a pity it wasn’t done sooner. With Christmas coming up, traffic to the island is going to get very busy,” he said.“I’ve been visiting Bruny Island the past few weekends and have noticed the visitation increasing. If the works were started earlier it could have created more jobs.”Bruny Island Community Association’s Bill Hughes described the development as “a bit of short-term pain for long-term gain”.“I welcome the infrastructure spend. I think it’ll speed up the ferry loading and discharge times. The timing of the works is never a good time,” Mr Hughes said.“There is only about 10 days of the year where traffic gets hit hard. We’ve learnt to put up with it.”
Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter said he hoped the terminal upgrades would have positive long-term benefits.“These additions by the Tasmanian government are appreciated,” he said.“We hope the improvements will have a positive impact on the traffic issues we have seen in Kettering over previous summers.”A state government spokeswoman said the works were unlikely to affect the ferry service, which will continue to operate its usual timetable.The existing berth will remain in use through the construction.
Meanwhile, Bruny Island vessel Mirambeena has been removed from service to undertake annual class survey maintenance requirements and to have scheduled repairs after it struck the Kettering wharf in August.
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