By LUKE VOOGT
The sold-out Portarlington ferry embarked on its maiden voyage for Docklands on Friday, much to the delight of campaigners.
John Rae and Geoff Henderson have been working for nine years to bring a ferry to the peninsula and announced its first passenger trial last week.
“We are absolutely delighted by the public support,” Mr Rae said.
“We needed to fill this ferry to show the owners and the Government that there is a need for it – and we certainly did that.”
Tickets sold out in just 14 hours leaving a large waiting list, Mr Rae said. He anticipated another trial in the next two weeks.
“The excitement in town is just amazing – everyone is ringing me wanting tickets,” he said.
“This is another positive step towards gaining a ferry service to operate between Portarlington and Docklands.”
Mr Rae said the ferry had been identified as ‘number one’ from hundreds of projects listed by Portarlington residents nine years ago.
He said the ferry won’t have commuters on board, as it can’t depart until 10.30am due to its commitments at Wyndham Vale.
“But that has always been our aim, to have a commuter ferry running in the morning and back at night.”
Four hundred people will travel from Portarlington at 10.30am, reaching Docklands in 88 minutes, Mr Rae said.
He said Port Phillip Ferries, which owns the vessel, is working with the State Government to make the trip faster.
“If speed restrictions lifted on parts of the slow area, they would be able to take 15 minutes off the 88.”
As well as giving residents a route to work, Mr Rae said the ferry could encourage people to visit the Bellarine’s “lovely wineries and restaurants”.
Combined with the State Government’s commitment to a $15 million safe harbour in Portarlington, he said it could encourage more people to move to the Bellarine.
“When that is completed the Government wants to have 100 berths in there – I think it’s just endless opportunities.”
Unlike daily trains to Melbourne, Mr Rae said, each passenger is guaranteed a seat by law.
“There are 400 seats and 400 lifejackets,” he said.
“They can use the Wi-Fi if they wish, have a coffee and not have to stand up – as they do on overcrowded trains.”
Essendon chairman Paul Little, who runs Port Phillip Ferries, said the trial phase was scheduled to conclude in August.
He said the company would make a decision with the State Government later that month and that early signs for Portarlington were encouraging.
“Wyndham, on the other hand, has been disappointing as solid demand needed for a regular service has not been there.”
