Towns surveyed on ferry support

Jessica Benton
A company is quizzing Bellarine Peninsula commuters about whether they would support a ferry service to Melbourne.
Bellarine Ferry Group and Parks Victoria have commissioned Ipsos to compile the survey of commuters for a proposed ferry service between Portarlington and Port Melbourne’s Station Pier.
Ferry group secretary John Rae said the company had polled focus groups from Portarlington and Ocean Grove.
“The survey aims to establish interest from people who work in Melbourne and live on the Bellarine Peninsula in using the ferry,” Mr Rae said.
“They were questioned and had discussions on various topics, including frequency of services, prices and type of vessel.”
Mr Rae said the company would now “reassess the process” to decide whether to adjust the survey for gauging support for the service in five other Bellarine Peninsula towns.
The company could also do away with the surveys depending on the process of the assessment, he said.
“Another option may be to mail the surveys to residents,” Mr Rae said.
Identifying the commuters who would be interested in a service running to the heart of Melbourne was a challenge for the survey company, he said.
“One of the difficulties is that they are trying to identify commuters from the Bellarine Peninsula to Melbourne but if a commuter works in, say, Cheltenham, the ferry wouldn’t work for them.”
Mr Rae said the company was scheduled to complete the surveys by October.
Ferry “stakeholders” would then review the results, he said.
The Independent reported in May, 2008, that Portarlington’s hopes of securing a ferry to Melbourne had moved closer after Parks Victoria allocated space for the service in a proposed redevelopment of the town’s harbour.
Parks Victoria strategic relations manager Elaine Carbines told the Independent the ferry berth had been included in a draft master plan for a $30 million project.
Parks Victoria is yet to release its draft Portarlington Safe Harbour plan.